Earth Angel:  A Poem

fallen from the firmament,

separated from the sky,

cast out like refuse,

you land with wings tattered

but intact.

you will not fly again.

you sink into the moment

that threatens infinity,

settling into the loam,

the humus,

the mold and the muck,

delicately,

like dust in a quiet room,

elemental

in your surety,

you fill the spaces between . . .

you belong

as if you had never left

and with knowing eyes

and open ears

you eventually find me.

so . . . have you quite deigned to rejoin the fray,

Earth Angel, have you now come home to stay?

by Bruce L. Wodhams

art by Bruce W. Miller

To Cassandra

TO CASSANDRA

Sweetheart, let us see of this rose,

This morning’s light did then disclose

Her splendid red dress in the sun,

Now near obscured as day is done,

Folds of her scarlet gown were shown

Dyed the very same as your own. 

There!  See how such a little space,

Sweetheart, she does have in this place.

There!  There!  How do her petals fall!

Harsh Nature Mother of us all,

Oh, why cannot a flower last

From morning ‘til the evening passed!

So, if you believe me, Sweetheart,

Before your comeliness does part

In its bloom still so new and green,

Gather, gather your youth so keen;

For like the flower we now see,

Age shall come to claim your beauty.

by PIERRE DE RONSARD

Translated by Bruce Miller & Bruce L. Wodhams

A CASSANDRE

MIGNONNE, allons voir si la rose,
Oui ce matin avait déclose
Sa robe de pourpre au soleil,
A point perdu cette vesprée
Les plis de sa robe pourprée,
Et sont teint au vôtre pareil.

Las ! voyez comme en peu d'espace,
Mignonne, elle a dessus la place,
Las ! las ! ses beautés laissé choir !
O vraiment marâtre Nature,
Puis qu'une telle fleur ne dure
Que du matin jusques au soir !

Donc, si vous me croyez, mignonne,
Tandis que votre âge fleuronné
En sa plus verte nouveauté,
Cueillez, cueillez votre jeunesse
Comme à cette fleur, la vieillesse
Fera ternir votre beauté.


PIERRE DE RONSARD 1524-1585