Sunday, March 6, 2011

Bell Jar Studies

4.

In the omphalos-domed cathedral,
the priestly voice rises and falls like thunder,
while the choir sounds like soft rain.

The thunder quakes and crackles,
producing tones that are like bombs,
full of metal and fire,
electric and quivering,
but not with life.

The thunder is so full
that no words can be discerned;
as such, no meaning is conveyed.

Nevertheless,
the People sit,
to honor the place
and the time
as holy.

Corporately, however,
attention tends to drift toward
the softness of the rain.

The rain swirls and drifts upward,
then settles downward prayerfully,
upon any spirit,
like a healing salve.

© 2011 by Elisabeth T. Eliassen