Volume > Issue > Beatitude in Blue

Beatitude in Blue

A POEM

By Oliver Barres | June 1984

Enveil God’s face, winged seraphim

Before the dazzling throne:

The onyx clouds cannot hide Him

Whose fullness flames unknown.

Bow low your thoughts, immaculate souls

In azure robes of fire:

Omniscient Love with glowing coals

Has touched the saints’ desire.

Sing high your praises, holy ones.

Before three-personed light:

The glory of His sapphire sons

Has pierced the heart of night.

Twentieth-Century Adam and Eve

As aliens yearn

For the native land.

We still return

To the garden —

Taste…

To Phoebe*

Phoebe,

Gentle handmaid

Of us all,

Who assisted Paul

And others

Of the early church,

…

Herring Gulls

They quarrel in low tide mud

Over scraps of rotten food;

They rest on fishhouse…