Poem: I am alone in the desert – Sayah (1)

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III speaks about his personal experience in seeking a life of spiritual solitude, expressing a deep longing to withdraw from the world and live in constant prayer and contemplation, uniting with God away from earthly distractions.

🌿 Life of Solitude and Monasticism:
The Pope explains how his goal was to live as a hermit, not only within the monastery but in a distant cave in the mountain, aspiring to the rank of a “pilgrim monk,” who moves from place to place to preserve his seclusion from people.

🕯 Spiritual Poetic Reflection:
Through his poem “Alone in the Wilderness,” he conveys the feeling of detachment and self-denial, saying he cares only for his spiritual life and has a hidden dwelling in the hills where he lives quietly, uncertain of what lies ahead. These verses reflect his deep yearning for solitude and spiritual freedom.

🌄 Inner Freedom:
He teaches that true peace is not found within walls, for real solitude is the freedom of mind and spirit. He describes himself as a “bird wandering in the air,” unbound by any place, free in his journey toward God.

💫 Holy Estrangement:
He concludes by affirming his sense of sacred estrangement from the world, walking a different path from others — a holy separation leading to deeper life with God, where he finds joy only in divine presence.

📖 Spiritual Message:
This reflection invites us to understand true solitude — not just separation from people, but union with God in stillness, where the soul finds peace and fulfillment in His presence.