I Saw Her Poem by Emmanuel George Cefai

I saw with a
Taper in her
Hand.

I saw
Her.

The time was
Wheeling
Fast
And crude
And ruthless.

Come!

The viper be at large.
The swans are wanton
And
In any case
They be asleep
Now
At midnight.

I
Heard
Her
Lisping
Lisping
Dreamingly:
‘Dream
Dream
Dream
Mists
Mists
Mists
Vapors
Of
Satanic
Red
White
Light
Of
Savior
Hue
Colors
Intermediate
Colors
Everywhere
Scientific
precise
Practical
Ruthless and
Clinical
Wearing
Spectacles
Long-sighted
Yet
Short-sighted.
Time
Will
Pass
This
Night
Will
Deepen
First
Turn
Red
In
Face
As
Red
As
A
Tomato
Then
Blanche
With
Fear
As
His
Couriers
Come
White-faced
Tell
Him
Dawn
Be
On
The
Way
Already
Is
She
Woken
Already
Already

Optrem! Optrem! De vi large
Si fires teli sorti
Cuccurruilli de satu preilli

Look! The Dawn is waiting
Venus already smiles
Her statue’s moving
As moon-shining snow
Melting:
Look! The Dawn is waiting.
Rise!
Rise!
There a new day, new morn!
Smile, my Monsignor, the rays
Are emanating.
Optrem! Optrem! De vi large
Si fires teli sorti
Cuccurruilli de satu preilli
Good-bye! Good-bye!