Discover the meaning behind Elytis’ quote: “My God, how much blue you spend, so we cannot see you”
The quote “My God, what blue you spend so we don’t see you” comes from the poem “Maria Nefeli” by Odysseas Elytis. The poet uses blue as a symbol of infinity, mystery and the infinite and at the same time, he invites us to think about how the divine can be omnipresent and yet unseen.
‘Blue’ refers to the colour of the sky and sea, and the poet implies that God ‘spends’ plenty of blue – that is, creates a vast sky and sea – as a way of remaining hidden from immediate human perception. It is as if he is saying that the very beauty and majesty of nature acts as a veil covering the divine presence.
Shortly before this particular verse is quoted, Elytis writes:
Cobalt blue, blue with infinite meanings.
With it they once spoke, like gods: Renoir, Monet and
Vincent van Gogh. But what is the depth and what is the beginning?
The reference to the painters Renoir, Monet and Van Gogh underlines the artists’ attempt to capture the intangible and the deeper meaning through their works. He acknowledges the importance of their works (“like gods”) but on the other hand expresses a deep existential anxiety and search when he asks “But, what is the depth and what is the beginning?”
The poet understands that despite our efforts to understand and reach the deeper meaning, there is always a level that remains inaccessible and unfathomable. This reinforces the theme of man’s inability to fully grasp the divine.
