I Saw A Shot-Down Angel
by Charles Causely
A GUEST POEM
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I saw a shot-down angel in the park
His marble blood sluicing the dyke of death
A sailing tree firing its brown sea-mark
Where he now wintered for his wounded breath
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I heard the bird-noise of his splintered wings
Sawing the steep sierra of the sky
On his fixed brow the jewel of the Kings
Reeked the red morning with a starving eye
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I stretched my hand to hold him from the heat
I fetched a cloth to bind him where he bled
I brought a bowl to wash his golden feet
I shone my shield to save him from the dead
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My angel spat my solace in my face
And fired my fingers with his burning shawl
Crawling in blood and silver to a place
Where he could turn his torture to the wall
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Alone I wandered in the sneaking snow
The signature of murder on my day
And from the gallows-tree, a careful crow
Hitched its appalling wings and flew away
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