POETRY
TRICKSTER’S SONG
After reading E. B. Murray’s “Jerusalem Reversed” in Blake Studies vol. 7 no. 1, I opened my copy of Blake—conscious of imitating Blake’s use of Bysshe—and began reading “The Voice of the Ancient Bard” as “in a mirror, darkly.” The result is not the finest poetry, but note the energy of Blake’s words is not destroyed and in some cases is enhanced with new meaning: “Her perplex roots tangled / there!” This is not meant as an example of extending Murray’s criticism or of promoting a Cabbalistic dabbling in Blake’s good book—just one poet’s playful response to England’s greatest.
Videmus nunc per speculum in aenigmate . . .
Paul, I Corinthians 13:12
Hither comes delight of youth,
morn opening to see. And
born new truth of Image.
Reason of clouds!
And fled is doubt
teasing artful, and dispute’s dark
maze. Endless is folly’s
way. Her perplex roots tangled
there! Fallen have many how
dead, the bones over night.
All stumble. They
care but what not know they feel. And
be led, should they? When others lead. Wish.
And