New and Selected Poems

Annunciation

90 Annunciation the Archangel is expected almost kneeling robes flowing like water against the late afternoon silence dominating the room’s internal order in the corner Mary paused in prayer head down hesitant wrapped in blue wool she sits beneath a dove ringed by fire such resistance in the air not the room as the pattern is certain long rectangled windows holding daylight the floor composed of diamonds gray and brown squares red white starred red dress the bed draped in silk 91 square white pillow at rest such stillness at the center of this story fleur de lys in bloom the world outside the window diminished as the room transforms into a kind of reliquary everything sacred swirling towards night ...