They rose into the air.
Oh my Lord...
How they rose into the air.
I was coming down from Old Lodge Hill
Boots heavy with mud, wading
A slough
Of sullen emptiness;
The church below me
Adrift in a grey mizzle sea.
When,
On ragged, tar-slicked wings
That flared with splintered fire,
They rose together
Into the air
Above the shrouded earth.
And if this universe
Could have contained
The three of us,
I swear...
Oh my Lord,
How I swear,
Right there and then
I would have stretched out my arms
And would have risen with them.
Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you Angela :))
DeleteBeautiful!! Glad to see you writing again~ I've missed it!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Kelly!!
DeleteYour words always carry me to new worlds..I admire your work so much! You are an incredible soul!
ReplyDeleteThank you Victoria and thank you for the endless inspiration you give in word and image.
DeleteAnd if this universe
ReplyDeleteCould have contained
The three of us,
I swear...
Oh my Lord,
How I swear,
Right there and then
I would have stretched out my arms
And would have risen with them.
incredible lines....so philosophical....I have always felt there is something ethereal about birds flying in the blue skies...there was a time when I used to lie in the terrace gazing above at the eagles gliding so effortlessly.. they are free and fearless..they are perfect...makes you believe in God..
Oh YES, Athira!!
DeleteIt is so strange this feeling of empathy/yearning we feel with birds, isn't it? We don't quite share that same feeling with fish (though I think dolphins and whales may come very close to it).
You are absolutely right in describing them as 'free' - they've even become a metaphor for freedom ('as free as a bird') - I wonder why? I wonder why we identify with them at such a deep psychological level.
thats something to think about.....whats with us humans and birds......even I wonder..
Delete"on ragged, tar-slicked wings" - such wonderful wordsmithing. I can see them now! Thank you for sharing, I am always inspired :)
ReplyDeleteHaha thank you, Mandy. I am also rather excited and inspired by the new moves (literally!) in your life. I can feel and savour the freshness of your new worlds! :))
Deleteyou, sir, need no wings to fly
ReplyDeleteAlas the clay here seems to cling to my boots and hold me earthbound ;)
DeleteSo lovely to see you again
Thank you, Yannis. That is a beautiful thing to say.
ReplyDelete