What We Should Talk About, Bowing Ourselves Down To The Ground Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

the impulse to create beauty, the deepening heart
no matter what fresh hell breaks out
and breaks the heart
this is the thing we should talk about
in Art what else is there
barring the showstoppers trendy trending
the eye popping colours, the wine and cheese parades
never ending
that other realm where
Beauty cannot fade
availing us of a more sure remedy
for use in our extremity
art as prayer as breathing in and out
the green moment in between
where the artist steps in unseen
to add the lift that does not merely endure
but purely prevails
surpassing
the evidence of the eyes on calamity
the falling off the rails
this is where faith lies
the startling enterprise of God. surmised
where His light overcomes
even the smallest tremour of the leaf
under clouded moonlight
while the guns pause stuttering under blue skies
or sly retribution in
the middle of the working day
in that split rainbow fusing instant
to hear the heralding angels
on the thresholds utter
the silver cueing Word from Home.
mary angela douglas 14 september 2023