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Epiphany

by Don Matley


Into those woods I entered
I know not why
Perhaps it was the summer green foliage
Which drew me there
So peaceful, so still, so alone
Until I startled an antlered deer
No doubt some medieval sign of Christ
Oh, if I were to meet such a man!
Who strolled amidst crowds of poor and weak
Restoring health and inner wealth
To man's soul.

Or any other great host of apparent omniscience
An Einstein! A Shakespeare! Or even a mere Beethoven!

But then a storm brewed and the sky darkened
Torrents of cold rain baptised me without warning.
I hastened to escape
For fear of knowing.
But as I fled I was forced to stop and turn and look back.
And there again was that same deer,
Staring at my departure.

03/29/2008

Posted on 03/29/2008
Copyright © 2024 Don Matley

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by Gabriel Ricard on 03/30/08 at 03:07 AM

Some really great wry lines here. Especially in the second stanza.

Posted by A. Paige White on 04/01/08 at 11:54 PM

do you suppose for a moment the antlered one wondered at you, "some medieval sign of Christ"? Perhaps he was still wondering to see some change before your now coldly baptised departure... I met him once in a dream, spent hours of an afternoon with him not knowing who He was only that I'd never been known so intimately or loved and accepted so unconditionally. He met me at my own door dressed in casual but nice slacks and shirt. Modern hair cut. Changed my whole perception of Him. Revitalized and rearranged all I thought I knew about Him. Thank you for reminding me with this wonderful poem.

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