Handel's Messiah

Inequity exalted
                                          (trill lilt lilt lilt)
          and up flapping flip opening
                      Glory of the Lord
                      Reveal led to
                                        gether
                      the mouth the mouth
                                        sonorous

Shake shake the
           windshields
                                    eyelashes trembling
            span gold thin stains
                     clear spearshaft
                              sharpening sky
                      gilded, the children
                              waves of wheat
                              straws of floss
                              beat toward North
He shall                     the grey wind
fury he shall                    stoops them
fa fury fa
fine china
fine.

            The signs of heap
                   heath under moss
                             under sand.
            Thy woost
                   in threads
                   cities of tuna
                             behold!
                   raisins & marmalade
                   surround the ranch
                   Arise!  be hold!
                             Switzerland on a pony!

One more shore
        upon thee
                    by charms,
                    incantations
        routing passwords
                    granite alcoves
                                pristine in flight
                    drop down and
                                                  glow.

Unto us
         a sun given,
and Government upon his shoulders:
         Wonderful!

Strolling out the land
        velvet winged years
                   scatter shadows
        over the well
            long lines,
                   o'er my widow
                   a salted sea
                   a puff of brass.

*          *          ----------          *          *

Shore leave! Shore leave!
          Sheave glass from foam
                   and with these wraiths
                   sirens trolling, creeping
                   and 'neath his eyes:
                              sheathes
                              reticulated weeds
                                        like sheep
            We have turned,
                  a weed like sheep
                              gone, gone
                                                                        astray
                              wings of toad
                              we have time!
                               beehive turnip!

Amble road.
            all day all ways.
Sailing. The fit of night's
                     flat dim.
              In the livery, in the livery
                  three shots, mashed & dim.
                           Light. The hymn.
              by the fount,
                   we bathe in evening
              clense our
                   raiment of sorrow
              cut off our weights
                          unstricken
                          unswaddled
                          enraptured

Who eats the stream of glory?
                The king of hosts,
                the thing of story
                           staircasing
                           anonymous
                           his, a thing of glory.
                 These impossible beasts:
                 beauteous joists of peace.

Their sound is a vowel
          and their words are
                 true salve,
                        and of the Word.
          Far true: the visions -
          flight through the pigeons
                        like a potted vessel.

High arc,
          keys of tulip
          risen in hues of Chardonney
          sit, sigh, porous legado,
                         un-die, un-die
          sewn in Christ,
          all been made alive,
                          no twinkling thine eye,
                          unleash all the dregs:
                          We shall be changed!
                          We shall be changed!


                            Ah           men.