Nature's Revelations: God Speaks Through Beauty
Poetry by Gill Schwartz

TEMPLE TO ARTEMIS

Temple to Artemis,
time transmuted to a copse of moon streaked
marble pillars, and moon speckled the nearby waves
whispering on the pebbled shore.

A boat of weary fishermen,
its bow graced by the fish-shaped eyes,
beaches and flings forth its sun scourged burden.
Abandoned, the boat remains, keel pinioned,
to sway with stroking tides throughout the night.

The fishermen stumble, land drunk, frenzied labor spent,
soaked taste and smell with raw and aging fish,
barefoot in pilgrimage over the rock jagged, lashing shore.
They fall prostrate on the remnant Temple's marble floor,
afresh with their own blood bathed. In archaic melody,
they chant their humble thanks for refuge to the stone image
unrevered for some thousand years.

And Artemis, the Silver Smile,
now fresh reborn and but lightly cloud veiled
midst star frothed night, renewed in her splendor,
her grand solitude and mystery,
grants them not only healing respite
and deep sleep, but sweet dreamlessness.

 

 

 

Copyright Nathaniel Schwartz 2003   www.WisdomVisions.com