Saturday, June 08, 2024

A SILVER BRANCH IS BROKEN FROM (REPOSTED FOR REFORMATTING)

 

A SILVER BRANCH IS BROKEN FROM

[to the Russian Poets: past, present and future with deep hope and gratitude-and, most emphatically, to the poets of the Silver Age]

a silver branch is broken from

a golden tree.

in the upper atmosphere

are many angels
and clouds of shimmering
radiant symbols.

if it were colder it would be

snowing angels
and Christmas could come early.

but you lose your way in

the fairytale forest
forgetting to be
on your guard-

plucking a rose in the

fatal hour-
turning to stone.

all blazing kingdoms

corroborate:
the same victory on the same day.

and there is world-wide entertainment

and sherbet in 10,000 flavors.

but the milk-white sky pours out

pitchers of sorrow;

the sun on its own bakes

bitter loaves.

and like children unjustly punished
we can't stop weeping for

the silver branch


cut from the golden tree-


mary angela douglas 13 june 2005/30 august 2005/copyright 2006

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