Oh, do not try to make it ordinary
or even think of credibility -
this visitation by the angel
or many
to shepherds in their freezing fields
or Mary -
no: I see hosts of snowy wings
descending in impossible sweeps
of power, I see
faces taut and gleaming, and those
piercing eyes that penetrate the soul
so that breath fails, and when it
passes there remains a vacuum -
and perhaps just a single
shining
feather.
©C.M.M. 12/11
Dedicated to the choir of St Thomas, Fifth Avenue, for their singing of A Babe is Born (Matthias)
You have taken my breath away ...
ReplyDeleteI love this poem and have written about it at deargodthisiskelley.com.
ReplyDeletePlease read. God bless!
Broad said it first. This is breath-taking. The image of a single, shining feather will stay with me.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, this is beautiful, Christine. Love it.
ReplyDeleteHaven't read poetry much for years, but have started again. Please recommend a few of your favourite contemporary poets for me to start on.
Wow!
Anita, welcome! My favourite poet is R.S. Thomas - I feel he's been the biggest influence on me. I also love Larkin, Norman McCaig, Carol Ann Duffy (but not everything of hers), Edwin Morgan (ditto). That do for now? ;-)
ReplyDelete