The subject for tonight is radiance,
she said, the way stark ribbons of moonlight
seem to ignite leaves, invite streams to dance
along those hillsides encased in granite
and sage. It’s radiance, she said, warming
the earth, embracing human skin longing
for human embrace; radiance charming
the reluctant wind, luring it to sing
ancient hymns, lyrics guiding us to keep
faith despite visions we can’t understand.
It’s radiance urging life to flow deep
in oceans, cells to form, combine, demand
structure. She grew silent, stared out, breathless sighs
her close, night rapt in radiance of her eyes.
Roger Armbrust
September 1, 2012
