© 2008 -- 2011 the Grandpa at The Word Mechanic. All rights reserved.

Friday, December 19, 2008

The Miracle

It’s as if the statue moved — just a hair
But moved. With my own eyes I saw it turn,
The gold glitter of the crown dance then spurn
All sense to leave its place in the sun. The air
Was charged with stained light and I knelt down there,
Half in fear — yes — but I felt my soul yearn
To touch a marble hem and thereby learn
A secret of God that would be mine alone to share.
There should be, I thought, music, but there was none.
Only the wind through the choir loft — and my breath.
All was as it had been, and I, the only one
To see it, stood alone as at my own death.
With dread I stepped forth, and yet I did so believing
That no loving god could ever be so deceiving.

Originally published in Wisconsin Review, January 1976
© copyright 2004, 2008 the Grandpa at The Word Mechanic Blog
All rights reserved

14 comments:

  1. Awww Grandpa - I just noticed my blog was under your spotlight. I am excited, thank you!! Its a Miracle!!

    I used to spend lots of times in an empty church as a child cleaning candelabras and tidying up (I used to love to help the nuns at my school). I talked to the statues all the time. No, they never answered back. Oh I think God is deceiving and has lots of tricks up his sleeve too...in a good way of course.

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  2. Hi, Lilly. Your site's so good, it seems idiotic to try to choose a favorite "type" of post. (Well, maybe Des's posts :0)) But I truly enjoy the Messages from your Mother. They're why I got hooked, I think.

    I knew a few nuns I think thought the statues actually talked to them. (:0))

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  3. Grandpa, I really, really loved this one... so beautiful and iridescent in its imagery. Thank you for sharing another piece of yourself with us.

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  4. Thanks, Amy. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I like sharing my poetry.

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  5. Beautiful. Like Lilly, when I was small I used to having staring contests with the statues at church.

    They always won. But if they would have blinked I think I would have freaked out!

    I agree, the Lord wouldn't deceive you with visions but I wouldn't put it past Satan.

    Love your poetry.

    Peace - Rene

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  6. Beautiful Grandpa...now that is truly evocative (and sometimes that word is overused). I wanted more...it finished too soon, perfect timing.

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  7. Thanks, Rene. Seems a lot of us have had experiences with the statues. I have to agree, blinking would freak me out too. Interesting what we'll tolerate in a poem. Sorry to say, I don't really buy the whole Satan thing any more. (People are bad enough on their own.) Don't know if I really ever bought it, although, it gave me a lot of sleepless nights when I was younger.

    Thank you, Braja (although I'm going to start calling you Ms Jewel, per my earlier comment). I do have a sonnet with a coda so it doesn't end when you might expect it too. I'm thinking of posting that one eventually.

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  8. I'm not sure about the statue, but I found the poem strangely moving. I was willing to believe it an actual experience... was it?

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  9. Hi, Dave. Whether it's based on fact or not, I think it's good when a poem evokes a willing suspension of disbelief. Thank you for granting it that. And thank you for being moved.

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  10. You really write very, very well. This post is no exception.

    Have a terrific weekend and a very Merry Christmas. :)

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  11. Thank you, Sandee. I really appreciate your saying that. And I hope you too have a wonderful weekend and a very merry Christmas.

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  12. It's gorgeous and breath-taking!

    Only the wind through the choir loft — and my breath.
    All was as it had been, and I, the only one
    To see it, stood alone as at my own death.

    Profound, moving. Thanks for sharing!

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  13. That's beautiful!
    Thank you for following. You have a very interesting blog, to say the least. I'll be back!

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  14. Thank you, LAdyFi. I truly apreciate the comment.

    Hi, Expat, and thank you. You are welcome here any time.

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