The Other Land

The strength and persuasion of the long slow turning
roll of the furrow modulates the fear
ever recurrent in the terrified senses
at the seasonal incest of the savage year.

Spring comes on with the cruelty of love
shattering the humble integrity of earth
so peacefully it lay and now forced to prove
the pain and the sorrow imminent in birth,

now forced to mirror the image of our Eden
where I am both Adam and the angel with the sword
terribly afraid and terrible in anger
lest the vine of transgressions should cover up the word.