Advent

Vocat aestus in ubram 
 

I see a redness suddenly come 
And the ship of sunrise burning 
To save our honour and a world aflame 

And though he strew the grave with gold 
Would it have been worth while 
Never relaxing into grace 

A gold-feathered bird 
Of sweet fire sweeps across me, so I drown 
Farther and farther, all the birds 
And the cries of the ships 
But one telling me plain what I escaped 

The stream of everything that runs away 

The joy of your approach 
I add added it to it 
Made merry because it is so 
You are lifted 
I will rise 
And time seemed finished ere the ship passed by

Note: "Advent" is a cento.
 
Shannon Holman, New York, 2001