To Michael Perekrestov
The Meeting
Scraping coldly across lifeless stone
A distant glow shows through diffused
The Amoure
Distant whisper explains thus
"Now revealed from on high
The Greeting
As other days, he passes by
And now he speaks, oh paradise!
The Joy
Eternal arias joined as one
He passes now, a moment's rush
The Chasm
Waves break upon distant shore
Close this drifting chasm I implore
The Path
The path you have oft graced before
And yet, more pure than any other place
The Presence
I stand now upon a wilderness
Generations may fade into mist
Daring not to breathe, even air a bane
Whispering, yet silent, all alone
Hostile indifference on its throne
Each step I trod is quiet pain
No depression, it is quite sane
The demands of the present moan
I sense a light that now appears
Dimly features emerge, that knight
With glory the world is now infused
As though the beauty of all the spheres
Embraces me, warming away my plight
His presence on this earth
The awe and splendor of his worth
Thus magnified below to us
Amoure is eager to discuss
The sorry state of honour's dearth
And revives purity with mirth
To achieve perfection without fuss
Take heed its manifestation,"
Amoure speaks in joyous fanfare
I see the holy breath is nigh
Shining in noble coronation
For he, that very he, is walking there
Brilliant light through forest dark
A hope when all about is stark
I always sense when he is nigh
Though I can but look away and sigh
Yet now he smiles, and hark!
A recognition, if only a spark
I pause, my eyes wondering why
His voice as though from afar
A greeting of which I may partake
The immortal presence in his eyes
Too blinding their spirits are
Under their majesty all mortals break
Beauty so fell, mortals cannot abide
Wisdom and prowess are at their side
Of comparison I fear I can find none
Joy is piercing me at a wild run
Without protection I would have died
Yet still, unshielded I would have tried
To abide in the joy, and be undone
As though all kings in ages past
Combined epitome of noblenesse
Majesty places nature in a hush
For it is he that has arrived at last
Upon all creation his presence to bless
Farther yet are you from here
I see no sail to bring you near
No prow on diamonds any more
An eternal rift the coldness tore
To meet again no longer I fear
Oh gentle knight without a peer
Now lost to me except in lore
Love how could you thus desert me
Your promise came but for a time
Now you have softly left the door
Once ajar now no longer free
Locked irrevocably as I pine
Now dreadful, tossed by pitiless breeze
In icy silence the landscape to seize
Branches move listlessly in a bore
The stones I tread are grey and sore
Where of old did naught but please
Mere memory causes me to freeze
Its talons seem to reach the very core
More warm and tender with your shadow
Than anywhere in this starry expanse
No darkness your light cannot chase
Your mark, my love will rest here I know
Its beauty laughing an eternal dance
Scattered granite marks a long-lost path
A dell in which sparrows take a bath
Yet a golden haze seems to bless
This jumbled heap and ancient mess
Otherworldly splendour it hath
This deserted mound, once a path
As if a chapel wherein to confess
Your imprint's warmth lingers on
Others shall question its light
Solid in anchor it cannot list
Though the university shall be gone
You crown its headstone with might
Note: These are Italian sonnets in both form and content.
Mr. Perekrestov represents Beatrice in the Dantean thought and is merely
there as a representation of philosophical interest.
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