Vernal Epiphany: Guest Poet John Babel

Vernal Epiphany

Its alchemical prestige

Still staggers almost –

Drawing drought’s dried dregs –

It’s detritus and dross,

And by the grey grace of rain

Grasps all the grand and the gross,

And death’s dumb dirge defeated

Made verge vibrant, verbose.

 

River bottom’s ablaze! All butter

And sun,

The hills are a maze of gingham

Waves run

Round pools of coral and bays of

Cerulean

And islands of blush seashell

Swollen and stung.

 

Hidden among the spumes

Of ice mist

Bundles of cattle

Newborn take their rest –

The scissortail sails singing

Over the frost clover crest

And ministering bees

Bless and are blessed.

 

Its alchemical prestige

Works covert, complete:

Draws drained spirit

From death and defeat –

And with poetic precision

Reveals reality raw and replete

With rebirth and renewal –

Crystal, 

Concrete.

 

- John Babel, 4/17/15

What did I tell you? Singing birds. Best poet since Gerard Manley Hopkins, in my opinion. I might be partial. A bit of spring hope in winter.