Meditation On The Submerged Cathedral Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

For Claude Debussy
The submerged cathedral
I have heard through oceans of sleep
Pealing
There is no music like this on earth I whispered, I weep
To the vagrant stars in their silver listening
And they swam away into such fields of depth
My heart turned meadowlark blue
Softly the roses toll and everything on earth is chiming
It is chiming and I dream the blind waters have covered the earth
Leaving only
The cathedral on dry land
Music has accomplished its purpose
I cried for Debussy; dreaming I understand.
mary angela douglas 5 june 2024