Bad Pollen Afternoon

[Brownlie]

Bad Pollen Afternoon


As I lay on a couch of basket-woven bronze - I assume this is the pollen.
dark verdigris warmed by a springtime sun -- Had to look up verdigris. Seems like it can be applied to urns and similar things. 
(what perfect weather, but the breeze that would
have soothed all burn from heat instead
reactivated allergies, nose stuffed
with cayenne pepper leaking salty sap)

as I lay thus, bedeviled by
a golden mean of pure repose, I heard
an alto voice say, “Allah!”
Woman's voice it was, not quite petulant
the tone of an exasperated mother -
Mary, it might be – accompanied
by heel-stamp on the flags of Paradise.

What was that scene, of which I only heard
its soundtrack? Mother Mary telling off
fair Gabriel and fire-eyed Azazel
for double-teaming some sun-addled man -
peace, oh, peace be unto him! -
with Gabriel commanding that
there never be compulsion in religion while
fallen Azazel impersonating Gabe
commanded that all infidels
convert or die in fear?

I went inside evading pepper-pollen
heard broadcast news of terror, bombs, beheadings.
And thought,
“Gabriel, you bloody twit!"

Unfortunately I don't know that much about the bible. seems like this is from the view of a bug and there's some stuff about monotheistic religions. Seems interesting.