Poem of David Wiley |
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BATTLE OF LEPANTO |
| Through
the clouds and the smoke come the Bucintorosfloating on
pillars of marble floating on azures on goldcarried by the gauzy raiment of cherubs and
seraphimcharged with the magnetic pull of angels the animal force of winged lions. |
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| They fight in the stomach of the
world they struggle in the minds of creators they return to impossible palacesdecorated by
the hands of demigods they dance en masse in the antechambers of Paradise they call to the
saints and the saints approach they mingle in a nebulous firmament bodies
entwined eyes illuminated with a Dostoevskian
ecstasy they reach with towers and bridges into the skies across the waters they reach
into the vast golden interiors of eternal space with the fervor of pilgrims peopling their
dreams with a zoo of holy creatures they dance with masks and bow to nothing save
the fallen stars of Earth they calculate the laws and
forces of the universe and turn them into visions rich with harmony they worship with
their minds and bodies with the heart’s keen senseof God’s desire. |
|
In every
particle of faith applied in every color every feel of shape every kind of light that
fills the eyes they bask and meditate nothing human
is beneath them in the darkness they torment each other without mercy they fight and the
saints do not frown when they pray they lie down on beds of jewel-encrusted crosses they
shut their eyes and survey their kingdoms they moan in their sleep and give commands to
their senses the bells ring once again and they awake to the everlasting thoughtthat truth
is beauty. |
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| Sorce: Venice, Oct, 22, 1994 |
| http://www.afonsky.com/PoetryCorner/DW-Notes.htm |
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