[Byzantine Bindings]

Friday 28 February 2014

Scrying Stone



The one who comes
in time of dryness

'O Lord, open thou my lips; 
and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.'*

Speaker of the eternal word
Caller forth to life
Eternal keeper of the song
Voice of cosmos

AUM

OHM

Speaker of the gentle word
Whisper on the sudden breeze
Echo of the ancient ways

Seed the world
with words of
wonder.





*Psalm 51:15 KJV









Monday 24 February 2014

The Little Ship of Death

Ars Moriendi
Egyptian Solar Barge
Viking Stone Ship
Dunkirk Little Ships
Sutton Hoo
Muisca Raft
The Raft of the Medusa
The Wreck of the Amphirite
Broighter Hoard

there is residing in my mind
a small ship of beaten gold
in which my fragile dreams reside

couched on red velvet
it sails on perilous seas
carrying consciousness
through darkening clouds

life and death are held as one
continum dancing on the ocean
rudderless and oblivious
absorbed in the stillness 

deep calm resides
woven in the keel's fibre
daily discipline 
invisible rib and plank

each day brings
embarkation nearer
towering waves offer 
awful excitement








Tuesday 18 February 2014

something at least

lack of engagement 
in some sort of discourse 
within a formal academic environment takes its toll 
I see no glimpse of bright sun dawning on that horizon
and
winter’s dark cloak of wet and windy threads 
provide little opportunity on the allotment
but 
spring comes by the moment 
a bee bumbled something 
crossing my path this morning 
as I unlocked the allotment gate
so
seeking consolation:
Either/ Or (such a  binary construction)
Antoninus begets Kierkegaard begets Eliot
at any rate “You can begin a new life. 
Only see things afresh as you used to see them. 
In this consists new life.”
provides a handhold
and an opportunity
to stick my foot in it.

Saturday 1 February 2014

St. Bridget’s Dawn

Do I come to you
or do you haunt me
between extremes of winter and spring
through the gap you squeeze
offering juice and sap
in the gap you come
sharing
no mere remembrance
not yet
consubstantial
thankfully
not yet transubstantiate
still

drifting between theology
and philosopy
take
drink
take eat
blessings in the half light
promises
keep the fire going
with fingers crossed
yes
no harm done
awaiting ontology’s
embodied doctrine
enfleshment

I have to say goodbye
before daybreak
before morning’s ethical colour
washes into the greyness of soul-scaped
possibilities
untangled simplicity
uncultured gracefulness
and with all my heart
I wish you would
and that I could.