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  • The Guard Plume
  • Marlene Marburg (bio)

At Sherbrook forest, I found a feather. It wasprayer and plume, like frondless bracken.A male lyrebird feather, spellbinding

as an icon. In dreams and lore,it is enhanced communication, and wasconsolation to my friend with whom

we prayed for voice and life to burstloud and green from hurt and shame.And parrots and kookaburras joined us

to open the thwarted throat, song strongand scaling to a sacred whisper.The guard plume had been trampled before time

but she held the curve and curl, seeingthe whole and graceful bird dancingunguarded on the mound. [End Page 310]

Marlene Marburg

Marlene Marburg is currently engaged in doctoral research at the Institute of Christian Spirituality and Pastoral Formation (Melbourne College of Divinity) on the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius. She is a poet, spiritual director and formator at Campion Centre of Ignatian Spirituality. marlene@marburgfc.com.au

Copyright © 2010 The Johns Hopkins University Press
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