A SURPRISE FROM THE WEATHER
Suppose this is nothing.
Suppose the clouds and the candy
Of birdsong, furred flutes of a pile
Of sleepy kittens, are nothing.
Curved flight of an eagle, smooth as flesh.
Pretty carts, yellow with children’s
Laughter, the preening carnivals of
Sleep, laced up with dreams, all pretty they are,
Full of the heart singing the names of God.
Oh the bears and the rivers and the
Blustery hills senseless with the stars,
They are so bright. Turtles, snowflakes
Quiet on the ice of their pond, the beauty of
Your thighs, the little noises that escape
Us when we are suddenly standing on high
Places, the phosphorus of the moment
Burst into flame, all this nothing.
Long ago, I walked here alarmed
That one day, as sure as shooting,
That angel would be walking out to
Meet the boatman, raise his hand to greet
Him and, beautiful rose of life, such a
Thought would rise up, hallelujah I
Find myself saying hallelujah to
The whole orchard, we are here together.
