29

The strong man gives and thus is strong;
Singing glory becomes the song: a voice
Circumambulating river, ocean: wind
Gathering strength: a hurricane unnamed
And thus the more majestic, rips,
Breaks, cracks the ageless oak and cedar,
Making them skip like fawns in scantling
To the music of the lute and timbrel,
A mighty flame, split into columns,
Through which a man might pass unscathed.
Though he is but a wilderness shaken
To its root he is his mother
Calving himself: acorn and primeval wood,
Arching temple enclosing song: a rainbow
Drawing power to the eye of peace.


© Dan Goorevitch, 1998