‘O’ and Other Poems

O

A wistful nocturne is cycling idly across the ceiling
by the rose and the cup of water; the rose, the against whom rose,
against whom the idle cyclist is whistling O Magnum Mysterium.

et ad-mi  -  ra     -     -     bi  -  le,       et   ad     -     -     mi-ra-bi-le  sa  -  cra-men  -tum   
et ad-mi  -  ra     -     -     bi  -  le,       et   ad     -     -     mi-ra-bi-le  sa  -  cra-men  -tum      
et ad-mi  -  ra     -     -     bi  -  le,       et   ad     -     -     mi-ra-bi-le  sa  -  cra-men  -tum      
et ad-mi  -  ra     -     -     bi  -  le,       et   ad     -     -     mi-ra-bi-le  sa  -  cra-men  -tum      

The lemons are an Easter fruit and the Virgin
is a dissonant appoggiatura G-sharp from the altos; a bum note
that, with the oranges in blossom, indicates renewed life.

Beata Virgo stands out against a consonant backdrop
with great care on the polished surface of the table,
a basket containing oranges and orange,
the most important note in the piece, edifies its meaning.

Blessed is the Virgin who at five in the morning,
at the umpteenth stroke of midnight
cycles across the ceiling towards a crack
of light between the door and the night and the day
that animals ut a-ni   -   ma     -     -    li  -  a
should see the new-born Lord
...