as the eagle soars into the sun
it forgets icarus;
as it rises above the landfill
it forgets dirt and graves;
what will it remember, will it see
the ground in that last moment?

neurotic would be
thinking insane but you know
that i am really

psychotic would be
i think i am i know i
but you know i’m not

stand here in the shape
of earth and air adamant
you think you are sane?

all flesh is as light
two thousand golden apples
are a memory

a cross encircled
did the unremembered laugh
celtic to the last?

grey flowers display
masons bow beneath the sky
that their hammers wrought

shield ringed with fire
eight gates pierced with light above
what rough beast was made?

pilgrimage ends here
the century’s weary hands
play a nave of swords

old stone holds old air
a thousand years of sainthood
stained glass, empty vaults

shielded from the sky
this sanctity will survive
the meaning of god