Monday 4 April 2011

Today's calendar poem is by the Dutch writer C.O. Jellema

THE SMALL CHURCH AT FRANSUM

Does god exist still, small sarcophagus
of faith, as vacant as
the Doric temples at Paestum:
a hiding place their columns for other birds
than gods – when I ask for him?

Small mummy of stone
with no heart, tabernacle,
with no place for sacred candle, do you
protect our landscape with your body
as a floor for heaven? I’m only asking.

Silent soundbox for outside, for godwits
in June, lowing dairy cattle at the gate –
so closed, I sit one evening in the grass
among your tombstones, you are loveliest so:
shut tight, the unforthcoming answer’s shrine.

For more poems go to here.

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