Meister Eckhart And The Moment Of Supreme Reality Poem by Kevin Kiely

Eckhart stares through the window
each tree distinct as one life, each universe…
and robed ones each embraced by beams of light
bearing seals of office in rows, pout and nod
in collective patter, skull-capped, cowled
in castigating looks, and hungry for lunch.

Eckhart in his defence of heresy:
Gott ist ein wort, ein engesprochen wort.
They wince, adjust the cushions, wring their hands
and fold their arms.

The eyes of Avignon starlings alert after flight
to the perfect lime trees, birds on swaying batons
amidst the steaming mist of sunshine haze

God lies in wait for us with love. Unless you have died
the supreme moment of life is death. I may be in error
I cannot be heretical. Error is a matter of intellect,
Eckhart gasps like a mule. Heresy is a matter of will.
The ashen faced elders each undressed in death, stare.
I go back to Plato, the great cleric. Eckhart hears their murmur.
Outside the bees in congress with blossoms murmur.

Being is the darkness of unknowing. He tugs an ear lobe
as if hearing a voice from above the latticed ceiling
his body shivers a moment in sunlight. A light we cannot see
shines upon being. Colour upon colour streams through the
windows into Eckhart's eyes. This darkness does not

encompass being. They question him. He looks beyond them
through windows to the domed immensity of blue that makes the sky.
Looking he hears the sound of silent joy.
Love has no why. I dwell in the world without a why.

The scribes poised with wing feather quills. The scribes
are scratching with ink. Blotched decisions
can take years of documents sent hither and thither
sealed in parchment bound like bundles of old shoes.

The quills are birds' feet scraping his final line of speech
birds beaks poking at paper: I pray to God to rid me of God.
Plates and cutlery are being moved into the dining hall.
Wine is filled and Eckhart hears the fountains flow
like a dreamy child who joins palm to palm to chest
smiles and bows in thanks. He calls them Venerable
Learnéd Doctors of the Most Holy Curia.