The Better Angels
Copenhagen
Bright baubles dancing on a thread
Translucent in suspense
Each one capturing a light
Floating fragile as soap bubbles
Bursting from the pipe
A child’s breath held within
Or glassy shimmering of frost flowers
Winter’s poignant art
Figurative
So Lincoln’s lovely words, summoning
The better angels of our nature
Strung in hope, Tibetan prayer flags
Across the world in newsprint
A wish, a plea
To those portentous gathered
In Copenhagen, two hundred
Suited, serious, saviours of the planet
And will they hear the poetry
And see the vision there
Floating fragile
This moment this time, just
Within our grasp?
Copenhagen
Bright baubles dancing on a thread
Translucent in suspense
Each one capturing a light
Floating fragile as soap bubbles
Bursting from the pipe
A child’s breath held within
Or glassy shimmering of frost flowers
Winter’s poignant art
Figurative
So Lincoln’s lovely words, summoning
The better angels of our nature
Strung in hope, Tibetan prayer flags
Across the world in newsprint
A wish, a plea
To those portentous gathered
In Copenhagen, two hundred
Suited, serious, saviours of the planet
And will they hear the poetry
And see the vision there
Floating fragile
This moment this time, just
Within our grasp?
December 8th 2009, Hounoux
I hope they do hear and see.
ReplyDeleteAnd anyway, Sally when do you get the time to do all these words, you were painting all day?
Ha Gill- but you remember I didn't arrive till lunchtime! I read the Abe Lincoln quote in a front page editorial of the Guardian, published on Monday as the Climate Change Conference opened. It was simultaneously published on the front pages of many newspapers around the world. I feel as if we are all holding our breath and I hardly dare listen to the news for fear of hearing that this critical moment has been lost.
ReplyDeleteHi, internet down so missed your blog, temporary dial up tonight! Yes indeed, someone at work was telling me she joined one of many coaches to London last weekend for the demonstration, I admired her decision to be proactive. I sometimes feel how my Nan used to look when I watched her totally perplexed seeing a world way beyond her horizons when she first got a TV. I then swing to a hopeful, optimistic place where I can believe we may be able to overcome our greed, learn to share and conserve. Surely we are all programmed to want the best for our collective children?
ReplyDeleteFrom Jenny G:
ReplyDeleteI love the poem, Sally, but am not familiar with the Lincoln reference. Does it refer to Abraham L? May I put a link to the poem on my profile?