LiFe
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
[ last edited by *celly on 11:37 PM ]
11:37 PM



A Late Answer - Philip Levine

Beyond that stand of firswas a small clearing,
where the woods ran out of breath or the winds beat them back.
No one was born there and no one would be,
but you could bury a lonely man there or an animal you didn't want out for flies to eat.
As we passed under the trees,
you were cold and took my hand and felt a shiver pass through me,
but you didn't let go.
When you spoke at last it was to ask after my thoughts,
but just then we broke into light so unexpected
I had to close my eyes and saw the fire swimming there
and had such a vision of the end of my life,
the trees turning to great flowers of flame
and the field ringed with sword bearing angels.
I could say nothing,
but held on to your hand and you to mine
both in the dream and in that bare place
where the North Sea winds lashed our faces with sudden spurts of rain.
Now, on the other sideof the world,
years later,
I know the ant came here believing he would rule and he waits for the wren to fall,
the grass waits blowing its breath into the morning that rises darkly on wet winds.
Somewhere the sea saves its tears for the rising tide,
somewhere we'll leave the world weighing no more than when we came,
and the answer will be the same,
your hand in mine,mine in yours, in that clearing
where the angels come toward us
without laughter, without tears.

cellywelly is emo now :((