A Crown Poem by Barry Middleton

darkness filters into light
sunrise brings no vision
diamonds are charred and burnt
sallow memory weeps

yet for sorrow there is song
the dove croons its mourning
the mockingbird cheers dawn
but man is exiled from nature

the poet sees the contrast
he shines a light on fears
to bring a jeweled crown
and bury the sins of mankind

the sun rises over the sea
and its lyric is like a prayer
that men embrace the earth
that we embrace our kingdom