The Light of the World, by Gerrit Henry

(David encouraged me to read Gerrit Henry's The Time of the Night.  I wish I had discovered this poem in time to post yesterday, but it is still worth reading.  The book is everything David says it is, and more. Buy it! -- SDH)

The Light of the World

If somebody asked me
Who my main influences
Had been . . . but who
Would want to know
A hard thing like that?
I ran around to three galleries
Today. I couldn't fine hot cross
Buns in any of four groceries.
Tonight I walked out on
Easter Vigil at St. Ignatius.
Broadway this weekend eve
Was alive! Not just with creatures
Of the night, like me, but lilies
Languishing in their stalls,
Loud children's cries, dogs leashed

Senselessly to parking meters,
Yuppies, winos, bums. I missed Mass,
And the Eucharist. But I got
The Times early. Why do
Such pomp and ceremony
Have to crowd out
So simple, so great a memory?
It's too late now.
Time to write a nice
Important poem, and this,
Guys, is it. Easter gladness.

-- Gerrit Henry

Comments

[Nancy Floritt]

Wonderful work. Thank you for posting it.