PETER RILEY, S.CECILIA IN TRASTEVERE

Stefano Maderno / Santa Cecilia ,1600, Altare della Confessione,
Basilica di Santa Cecilia, Roma

What moves between bright thoughts and finished body?
Music’s Idea turns in the clouds and she
Lies on the floor, denied her time, face
Turned away so as not to view her own pain...

What moves between is all we live, heavy
And light banked in winged tiers, that we
Carve our eyes through day to day, kiss
The bed and back to the devastating sight again...

I believe in a centre to the wasted life
That is carried before the world and holds love
Through distance and strife to the end of a
Perfect reconciliation however many times
Occluded in failed responses finally standing
Whole and obvious, like an orchard in the rain.