CLOUD-FEATHERS
The air so brilliant & clear today
beside the Bronze Age river.
The railroad bridge hovers
over its reflection – a light play
of diagonals, like water-spiders
on a pond, or cloud-feathers
above the Jordan, tethered
to a steadfast figure (Jasper’s
orant mariner, circumferencing
gray sea with shady palm).
That chanting shepherd, calm
beneath an indigo wheel of blazing
stars... one cheerful face beaming
from the medallion
in Classe (Apollinarian)
under darkened wooden ceiling
of abandoned ship, beached in pine-
swamp, at Ravenna’s edge.
Mere icons of a human pledge
so simple, local, omni-Byzantine –
ineffable mosaic sky
where Love bends waves
to lift us from our graves
into a metamorphosis kind Aye
above halo of tears you streak
with serpentine arches
agios agios agios
one river-rainbow in an eagle’s beak
7.29.16
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