VISION

 (From the collection Songs For A land)

The wilderness and the solitary place 

Shall be glad for them; and the desert shall 

Rejoice and blossom as a rose. 

The desert rose, will welcome us.

She split the stone wide away, 

She gave her heart unto our hands,

A rose, a ruby red and gold, pale pink 

And cream, honey and wine, nectar of peach, 

Orange and lemon.

She welcomed us, painted pale in muted 

Tones of vivid formations

Wilderness wild

Solitary place.

You mystic, men of yore, 

Come here to see our mirage desert 

A long stemmed rose is gladdened 

For them, for us,

She sings she dances and rejoices

In the way of a bride.

For the ground shall become a pool,

The thirsty land springs of water.

Mirage

She lifts her head in song

And bends in swaying,

Rejoices arcs of movement

She welcomes us,

she becomes us,

she becomes me.

I stand away and sway.

Water break out of streams

Of dancing, grass-green reeds and rushes; 

Rushes rushing toward blossoms, rejoicing,

I stand away in silence.

She welcomes me, circles me and whispers

”Anew heart also will I give you, 

A new spirit will I put within you, 

I will take the stony heart out

I will give you a heart of flash, 

Blood and blossoms.“

I place my heart unto her hand, 

She split the stone away, wide away.

Be glad for them O wilderness,

She stand up to rejoice;

I stand up 

We dance and sway and cry and laugh.