Phebe Davidson
ARTICLES OF FAITH
The Archangel has no childhood, and so may watch the children
of men a long time without understanding what is not in him to know.
The Archangel has no memory and no need of memory. Knowledge
rises in him as it is required, then it disappears.
Without memory humanity is nothing.
Humanity asks the wrong questions. It need not know the name of God
nor the speed of light. It wastes its time in physics and metaphysics.
The Archangel asks and answers:
What is forty days and forty nights?
It is the duration.
Humanity cannot accommodate essential knowledge and is thus untroubled
by its absence.
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“What is forty days and forty nights?/ It is the duration.” This is deep; I love it.
I agree with Helen: that is a lovely line. Really lovely piece. Congrats.
so much of the true, here. and, the delicate use of “untroubled” in the close is delightful.
I love the line, “without memory, humanity is nothing.”
Of course, there are no wrong questions, but I would spend more time on the nature of God than the name, on the duration of light than the speed, and on what can be done with time than how long it lasts.
I love this poem, especially the line ” . . . and so may watch the children/of men a long time without understanding what is not in him to know.” And I agree, “Humanity cannot accommodate essential knowledge and is thus untroubled by its absence.” Soberingly true. You have hit the nail on the head in so many ways with this piece.
I like Scott’s comment, and in reading that I wonder what it is WE watch for a long time without understanding what is not in ourselves to know. I love poems that provide a jumping-off-place for more musing . . . I like all three of your poems in this issue, and hope that you soon get an acceptance for the whole MS – I’d love to read it!