It was morning, edge of consciousness
between the dreamtime
when problems exist only solved and
a barely wakened state of potential solutions
from my perspective.
My eyes were damp, unremembered if from
agony or joy. I saw before I slept this summer month,
full moon risen near apparently touching planets Venus, Jupiter
making trine from earth’s perspective.
Online chatter had interpreted this celestial sight, said
light that superbrightly doubled planetary bodies made
might be the cyclic star they saw for Jesus’ birth on earth.
between the dreamtime
when problems exist only solved and
a barely wakened state of potential solutions
from my perspective.
My eyes were damp, unremembered if from
agony or joy. I saw before I slept this summer month,
full moon risen near apparently touching planets Venus, Jupiter
making trine from earth’s perspective.
Online chatter had interpreted this celestial sight, said
light that superbrightly doubled planetary bodies made
might be the cyclic star they saw for Jesus’ birth on earth.
Upon these simultaneously routine & unique united
points in sky I wish to write of being
white when — yet again — so many
black churches across the South seem to be catching fire.
Seven as of yesterday.
Not certain — it is said — if this is arson, won’t know for weeks
if acts of god, like lightning strikes, or if acts
of self-appointed gods struck four of seven holy places.
Torching of three edifices is confirmed.
Affirmation, someone’s manhood threatened,
he/they mean to cure own flagging feelings of supremacy,
desired way of life attacking holy places
pious black folks worship God, same God
the only One from soul’s perspective.
points in sky I wish to write of being
white when — yet again — so many
black churches across the South seem to be catching fire.
Seven as of yesterday.
Not certain — it is said — if this is arson, won’t know for weeks
if acts of god, like lightning strikes, or if acts
of self-appointed gods struck four of seven holy places.
Torching of three edifices is confirmed.
Affirmation, someone’s manhood threatened,
he/they mean to cure own flagging feelings of supremacy,
desired way of life attacking holy places
pious black folks worship God, same God
the only One from soul’s perspective.
From my perspective, all we are one.
What misanthropic scriptures make desirable to kill another?
What God would give commands to set His homes ablaze?
Not mine. Nor theirs, though prideful whites display
such repercussions of belief.
We see what could be very Star of Bethlehem
timed for second coming, yet
love your neighbor as yourself
withers under siege
when violent conflagrations
usher us toward unforgiving grief.
What misanthropic scriptures make desirable to kill another?
What God would give commands to set His homes ablaze?
Not mine. Nor theirs, though prideful whites display
such repercussions of belief.
We see what could be very Star of Bethlehem
timed for second coming, yet
love your neighbor as yourself
withers under siege
when violent conflagrations
usher us toward unforgiving grief.
Catherine Lee founded/ran for 13 years Studio Red Top, a loft space where she produced concerts, jam sessions, and readings. In that adult playpen in 1978, Lee began exploring poetry as a percussive voice with jazz musicians. Today, Lee reads solo or sits in “on poem” with improvised music. Lee handmade several limited edition chapbooks available at Etsy (@JazzOvationInn), and blogs about jazz poetry on Facebook (Jazz Ovation Inn).
