Words [1963] Poem by Mike Barrett

Before
The beginning
The thought.

Before
The thought
The Being.

No beginning
This being -
No end -
The fifth dimension,
Father of the four -
Einstein's one,
Descartes co-ordinate three!

' O setting sun,
Forever are we,
Darwin's scum descendants,
Christ's fish,
Cursed to dwell
In the darkening shadows
Of your fading self?
Never will we see the light?
The growing dawn?
The day?

- -

Oh to live
By the light
Of noon
Than
In this deceitful dusk! '

In our dimension
When each his fourth
Intersects the fifth
Then
Shall he see the Son?
Then
Shall eternal truths
Be illumined
And order over chaos
Reign?

XXXXXXXXXX
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Concave
Without convex
Cannot exist.

Death itself
On birth
Is likewise
Just so bent.

Consider a life
The width
Of the curvèd
Line.

Awahaah! Awahaah! Awahaah!

One bold wide line.

XXXXXXXXXX Birth
XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXX Life
XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXX Death


'How natural he looks,
Hands clasped. '
'The make-up job is great! '
'Did you know those
Beads are real pearl? '


'John was such a fine fine fellow! '
' A pillar of the Church he was! '
'Don't you just love these wakes! '
'A toast to you and me. '
'A dime for a candle? -
Sorry, I haven't the change. '

* * * * *

Before
The beginning
The thought.
Before
The thought
The Being
No beginning
This Being,
No end -
The fifth dimension,
Father of the four,
Einstein’s one,
Descartes co-ordinate three.

Sanctus. Sanctus. Sanctus.

Meek
Are the faithful.
Theirs
Is the earth!


© M. Barrett – all rights reserved