Outside all circles

Outside all circles, revolving crowds

and conversations, attentions directed
elsewhere, the spiraling weight of constant
gravity, of magnets never touching, repelled
at the polarities, quiet cushions of atmosphere,
the stars of closest galaxies, the cold and frail light
reaching patient planets, orbs cloaked in serene
darkness and the ever-present silence of thought.

Night and Day

"How sad," whispers Venus from behind the veil
of soft and tattered silkworm lace,
"the quivering starlight must now fail
and Diana must withdraw the fair moon face.
For behold! Apollo now ascends the sky
on his chariot pulled by ten great stallions:
immersed in golden flames they fly
towards the summit of heaven on high
while night-joys fade away with a sigh
with none to mourn them when they die."

"How glad!" shouts Apollo from within the fire
that brings warm light to the world at last.
"On, good steed, now take us higher -
the melancholy shadow of night is past!
No more will this land be hidden by grey -
no more the sad and weary gloom. 
Be cheered! The blithe and golden ray
upon the waking world I lay
casting grim darkness far away
to impart to the living another day!"

Forbid, forbid

Forbid, forbid the trees to dance,
the birds to sing, the horse to prance.
Forbid in each new circumstance
the semblance of mirth.

Set the geese in throngs to fly,
the light to wane, the leaves to die,
the wind to breathe a mournful sigh
across the weary earth.

Forget the golden summer days,
the gladsome bloom, the warming rays.
Forget the robin's merry ways
in this time of dearth.

Alpínid

The rush of gentle waves over sloping sands,
the great press of sorrow - always tomorrow.
A full breath of sunlight, the sea-sky is full
of scattered islands, the Hebrides of old.
Daily they offer prayers for me on Iona -
over the tomb of King Cináed mac Ailpín.
The sun is radiant behind them: a heaven
of halos shining down on Rèilig Odhrain.