BETHEL

 

they have grown proud of breaking the beautiful things

this is their forte now

while the courtiers are asleep

and no one guards the seven castles of my soul

I weep for the breakage

how hard is the ground

I set my head upon stone

and cannot dream

surely Christ will come again

if only these lost things to mend

they are so numerous now

like shards in the palms of my hands

who may help us understand

all that has come to pass

to see from the corners of our eyes

the traffic of angels sigh

as if the stars were glass

and trembled like bells in the smallest rains.

mary angela douglas 14 august 2023