Sunset at the Northpole 8

THE STONES OF VENICE

I

RISING OUT OF THE MIST THE SECRETS FIND A PLACE TO REST

IN THE DARK DEEP CAVERN BENEATH AN OLD CATHEDRAL

I’M RESTING ON MY CHAISE ON A BALCONY ABOVE THE SEA

I’M REMINDED OF THE PATH OF SAN MARCO’S FINAL JOURNEY

THE CONSEQUENCE OF SCHEMES AND LOATHSOME TREACHERY

PUSH TRUTH TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL

WHERE IS THIS PLACE I KNEW IN ANOTHER LIFE AND TIME?

AS I CAST AWAY THE LAYERS OF MY AWARENESS

II

NO ONE BELIEVES MY WORDS YET THEY PAY TO HEAR MY VOICE

THEY’RE AMUSED BY MY PITHY OBSERVATIONS

I HEAR MUSIC ON THE GRAND CANAL IN THE MOONLIGHT OF MY SOUL

THIS STRANGE MYSTERIOUS SPACE HAS RAPTURED BEAUTY

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IN THIS PLACE (AND) NEVER BEEN HERE AT ALL

ILLUSION IS REFLECTED ON PAST AWAKENINGS

THIS REFUGE WITHIN THE SEA IS CALLING OUT MY NAME

AS I STAND NAKED IN THE GLARE OF ILLUMINATION

THE REMNANTS OF A LIFE I ONCE, IN TIME, CALLED MY OWN

I’M AFFLICTED WITH THE DISEASE OF HUMILIATION

THESE WORDS HAVE BEEN USED BEFORE

MAYBE IN A DIFFERENT ORDER OR BETTER PLACE

BUT FOR NOW I WANDER UPON THE STONES OF VENICE

New Haven
April 2007