Thaumatropes

a serpent's canyon-eyes
now behold 

THE ARCHANGEL

of this day coming
bestride

A FLAMING HORSE


+ + + + +


at a candlelit altar
black sparks drift

over THAT BODY

within THIS BODY
forever

dripping blood

on Earth as it is
in Heaven

for war is

constant here
among

the inner planets


+ + + + +

molten alphabetic
codes burn through

this rosy garden

enfolding all living
flesh

THE PREGNANT WOMAN

has come cloaked
in sunrays

THE NEW MOON

at her feet a sliver
freely floating

with the lily pads

1993

*thaumatrope: [Greek–thaumato, miracle + tropos, turning]
 a card with pictures on both sides which twirled rapidly
 appear to combine in the persistence of vision.