Pondering in Tuscany
Published
Topic
Sadness
(to my friend M.)
beatific warmth of sun, and the eye rejoices in
these gracious medieval buildings,
lines and curves of
walls, trees, roads and the curling hills
breathing out certainty
centuries of action followed by repose
day succeeding day, season after season
a quiet knowledge
a happy land.
But then this glaring dragon
rushing, raging
breathing out fumes
shattering that which is whole:
the destroyer.
The frescoes on the church walls know him
the painted scenes show him:
there he is
the old enemy
dressed in fiery red...
Help help, Michael and all archangels:
come with your gleaming sword to slay
because he breathes out poisonous fire
claws into shreds, smashes underfoot,
roars so loud we cannot hear
the sounds of peace
blasts a black shadow over the pleasant land
and destroys.
It is a long long road, and we have not arrived
we continue, close no doors,
with two hands we lift the shining sword
we smite...
(Wendie Shaffer, 18 & 24 August 2012)