14
Orthodox
Sunday
each
voice as of another age
waiting
for cadence
candle
lit
cold
among these plastered stones
timber
carved in glove and book
here's
a prayer for fair abundance
for
those
in captivity and their salvation
sign
of the cross makes live the air
hymn
thee bless thee thanks to thee
everything
is sung
*
God
has an office out the back
so
we see that we are prayed for
the
rhythm is of donkey tracks
just
the one sun's beam
falls
to the floor
mostly
the priest is in conference with God
does
transubstantiation magic
the
little entrance and the great
to
the doors give heed
*
during
the lesson a chatter like school days
gold
has caught the icons – aura
the
air incensed
every
line demands response
if
not from voice then from the heart
God's
always behind a further door
close
eyes and comfort comes
censer
smokes parabolas
a
metronome of almost silence
then
it is a rhythm of bells
will
bells ring again?
*
not
enough wall for the saints
heaven's
a crowded kafeneion
just
images here
the
truth is very very old
the
lamb of God is bloodied, bowed
on
top of the world still
sad
eyes to earth
flowers
of all other seasons
carved
intricate for us
devotion makes a sign of the cross
peace,
goodwill towards
*
machinery
like theatre of old
the
everlasting's here
because
breath passes meaning on
let
us commend ourselves and each other
kyrie
eleison
– Lord have mercy
everything
is sung
*
cool
in here summers
among
the stones
under
the deep round vault
plastered
white
the
church is everybody's hat
and
one needs such protection
each
voice as of another age
waiting
for cadence
candle
lit
forever
up outside though

each voice as of another age
ReplyDeletewaiting for cadence
candle lit
forever up outside though
a purer and a purer blue
Very fine, Kit. Thank you.