Geese

[TranquillityBase]

“I am fire and air; my other elements 

I give to baser life”

– Cleopatra, "Antony and Cleopatra" (scene ii), by William Shakespeare



Descend

in perfect pitch 

of pale plumes and snowfall

              

          at last horizon’s lost



all meaning   this isn’t a noble place

but sometimes the river freezes over in gold

like god is an artery

cut through our centre     and still

people work    here    like everywhere     everyday

like geese    it’s true   

   our history is the history of falling

       and violence

and love     everywhere    the earth screamed so loud 

it lost its voice     again and again

I give to baser life

This is actually a response to your original poem.  I haven't read (yet) your conversations with Mark.  Or the spoiler.  Or the revision.  So I may change my tune.

Anyway, I seized upon the Cleopatra reference, which led me to Egypt.

I read that geese were considered by the Egyptians to be sacred messengers from heaven to earth.

I didn't "understand" the original poem, but I was quite taken by it.  Generally speaking, I prefer poems that I don't really understand completely.  I like to feel I'm in the prescence of a mystery. 

Now I will read your revision.