I.
Wild with rhapsody twirled the world while held in light,
whirling in symphony to the kaleidoscope shimmering
white in which beautiful Mystery flung itself colored out,
spilling in shimmering waves of the world, and glimmering.
Trees and the sea both abandoned themselves to the freedom of
sky, in symmetrical ridges, they rose themselves higher and
higher, and still they were held in a warm and resilient
light within unrestrained joy. Until racing down cold on land
it came: A cloud of shadow between light and trees.
II.
A butterfly
flitting
uncertainly
lights to the unstrung breeze
To find the comfort of a leaf home, fan its wings
and flutter to the music’s lilt on dappled strings.
III.
Struck the bluff and senseless rain
all, unreasonable with pain.
Forced within the fall of wind,
driven blind and helpless pinned,
bent away from swollen skies
here the butterfly. It cries
merciful release from this.
torrent filling this abyss,
wound, inflicting senseless pain:
sheets of cold and slanted rain.
IV.
The sky flamed blood. Beneath the broken clouds,
above the broken waves it dips in rings
and rides of wind and color, trusting in
the frailty of divinely crafted wings.
It took the flight toward broken skies and knew
the truth transcending all, and still more bright:
love spun the world with bare and broken joy,
and held it yet, in warm and gentle light.
Gloria Kurtz finds joy expressed best in teaching first and second grade, and delights in writing the poetry of life found cupped in the beauty of her upstate NY home.
Photography by Kenneth Godoy