"Spectre," "Desideratum" and "Magi"

Spectre

As if his wounds are
family members, he’s become
kinder since his accident. Sun’s
 
heat against her back, she gazes
down into that curtain
of mist in which -- enmeshed,
 
glimmering -- stands the giant of
herself. Walking hand in hand, they
spin round, thinking they’ve heard
 
French behind them. He takes his own
life not long after creating
the blue in those windows,
 
as well as -- above the infant’s
head -- an amber halo, last
piece to fade in dying light.

Desideratum

Pauses between minutes, hours.  Effacement
of canons…that bewildering record of
 
rulers, wars, idolatries, and
murders…Procession of torches winding
 
up a mountain path.  Page emptying
into a fold, into a marsh, into
 
a charm.  Tearing alongside the creek, chests
heaving, snatching a
 
snapping turtle out,
studying it, dropping it
 
back in…spittle upon his beard, he
scrabbles at the gate doors…

Magi

Once again, climbing over
anyone necessary in order to
 
reach the highest moral ground…longest,
most elaborate, most sophisticated, and
 
lacking any sincerity… Scholars’ elaborate
come-ons create their own gravity, tepid,
 
echoing.  The empty tent appears one morning,
so they try to fill it:  plants, veils, hoops, curtains,
 
shovels…pitcher, wheel, and golden bowl, all
broken…Odd how imagination falters near
 
the summit…alert to any spiritual
and intellectual current; restless, eager for fame…