Fluttering Things Poem by Barry Middleton

I

in youth it is the leaves
trembling with delight
water over round rocks
and the agony of clocks

the times before desire
all the stars of heaven
placed there just for me
in the circle of my view

under the shadowy rock
there is no fear of death
for I will live forever
leaf and rock and treasure

II

then comes the greed
to seek and find and hold
scarce commodities of love
and symbols cast in gold

if I cannot possess a god
then I will hold a goddess
I build a fortress of fear
stone on stone on bone

until there comes a day
gazing at a quivering sun
I am blinded by oblivion
dark waters steal the light

III

then the walls crumble
and life is but despair
death is quietly waiting
as the devil takes a chair

a beating heart is doubt
love vanished like day
and no amount of gold
will take the fear away

the challenge to endure
is the ultimate test
surrender to the elements
the cosmos at its best

IV

now I tune my eyes
beyond the far horizon
where seabirds in frenzy
follow the fishermen

and then at last I know
what always I was seeking
to study the green waters
to wait the flash of silver

I'll not forget those stars
I know that leaf and rock
and gold and goddesses
are finally put to rest