If You Had Said No
If you had said no
the burning Archangel
would have offered no rebuke
(he had not been sent
as for the priest
to humble pride
but to exalt humility)
he would have bowed
his crowned head
in silence
and in silence turned
and walked away
his rainbow plumage
receding in the endless distance
forever
in the courts of heaven
a hush would have fallen
on the cosmic powers
the cherubim
turn their thousand eyes
away from the earth
and the stars
take up
a new song
the celestial spheres
sigh like strings
in perpetual, cyclical
mourning
(for one can neither mourn nor desire
the impossible—
but what was possible
can be mourned and longed for
in remembrance
forever)
a quiet
would have fallen
upon the earth
the grass and the trees
clothe themselves
as in winter
with dimness
the burning desire
would go out
of the heart of things
no more of blood
in the dying leaves
no more of fire
in the blooming rose
the moths
would no longer
seek the flame
the leaves would have
no voice in the wind
the trees would have no eyes
and there would be no face
in the dark forest
the sons of men
would cease from
the ancient rites
of winter and springtime
they would make
no war
for immortal glory
the daughters of men
would be fair only
desired only
possessed only
there would be no light
in their eyes
no gleam of gold
fire earth moonlight
in their tresses
they would bear their children
in silence
with no wild hope
in the pain and blood
the birds
would not sing more sweetly
in their presence
nor would the fire burn brighter
there would be no roses
in them
at all
the littleness
of their children
would have no
greatness
in it
bread would be
only bread
wine only wine
and the blood of men
only like the blood of cattle
