from BARDO

The stars are in our belly; the Milky Way our umbilicus.

Is it a consolation that the stuff of which we’re made

is star-stuff too?


– That wherever you go you can never fully disappear –

dispersal only: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen.


Tree, rain, coal, glow-worm, horse, gnat, rock.


Roselle Angwin

Friday 5 December 2014

Rite

Saturn has taken up position again
in the sky where it dwelled when we

were born, he and I both, a generation apart,
in the same holy river.
                                        Behind Saturn,
time’s gatekeeper, further again cycle
the greater cosmic forces by which the stars
are posted to their own allotted places,
spheres of a different finitude on the dark face
of night.
                                      In a day, in a moment
we are brought to a threshold and gathered
in and over. Nothing
                                     can stop the old order
breaking down; not our wishes, not tears,
not prayers – for only thus can the new
ever be born.
                        In this first, new, December day,
grey dawn paints in the monochrome tones
of the valley; and look! – at the old field gate
how beautiful, how heartbreaking, this lone
fragile white periwinkle, opening to sky.


© Roselle Angwin, 4th December 2014, for JOA, 1928–2014








6 comments:

  1. Roselle: What a wonderful gift to remember by. Some say that you should wait for distance and calm to find words, but I don't agree; raw feeling needs to be acknowledged and your words convey it all.
    Our thoughts are with you.
    Love, Miriam.

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  2. Miriam - thank you, as ever. Love, R

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  3. You are in my thoughts, Friend xxx

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  4. Roz, thank you. With love - Rx

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  5. A very beautiful example of flowers growing in the dark places ... Thank you for sharing these words, and my thoughts and blessings, from Diana xxx

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  6. Diana, thank you for that kindness. Rx

    ReplyDelete

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