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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