A Life As Though on Vellum
Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem
His life was filled with little monsters, not
Much more, not cancer and no earthquake, no
War. Monsters for this man were no more fraught
With horror than the creatures in their flow
Around the margins of the Book of Kells.
His life was more like gilding on a page
There. It was more like gardens with deep wells.
The gardens were of peace, a peace come stage by stage,
Like seasons, childhood, manhood, marriage, love
Though never perfect. Old age came but mild
Perhaps like stiffness in a border dove
Inside the book as if with paintbrush styled.
When death arrived, the prayer book simply closed
Forever as had always been supposed.
~ Philip Whidden
by phillipw | Mar 30, 2025 | CA, ME, TR |