Angels need no maps of the stars,
no compass to locate the forces of infinity–
they are the not that is,
a geography larger than what can be written down.

No compass is necessary to locate the forces of infinity
that gravitate, pull, and repel inside
a geography larger than what can be written down.
Larger than shadows, veils, and mirrors,

they gravitate, pull, and repel time.
They ride on invisible strings woven through air,
larger than shadows, veils, and mirrors.
Their landscape inhabits their very being,

riding on invisible strings woven through air,
moving on currents of skywind and dream magic.
Their landscape inhabits their very being,
alert to the pauses and imperfections of the light.

Moving on currents of skywind and dream magic,
they become feathers and wings–
alert to the pauses and imperfections of the light,
they become vessels and messengers.

They become feathers and wings.
They balance the world as it slumbers and waits.
They become vessels and messengers.
They become what is seen with closed eyes

They balance the world as it slumbers and waits,
echoing and reflecting the pull of the unknown.
They become what is seen with closed eyes,
the outline filled with what isn’t there,

Echoing and reflecting the pull of the unknown.
They are the not that is,
the outline filled with what isn’t there.
Angels need no maps of the stars

A final month of birdlings before I go back to my geometry for the beginning of the month next year.

The pantoum, inspired by Chagall’s “The Dream”, below, was published in The Ekphrastic Review this week right next to Merril’s poem “Temporary Shelter of Dreams, 1939”.

May your December be filled with the people you love and hopeful dreams.