Editor’s note: A few weeks before Will (one of the three founders of this site) passed away last August, he sent me a document with a handful of his poems, to publish on Utopian Idiots. At the time, however, all my thoughts were with him, not with this project, and I didn’t get a chance to publish the poems before he passed away. With Jonathon and I now making a renewed effort to resurrect Utopian Idiots, it seemed a good time to publish Will’s poems. Here is the first of them.
There’s a hole in the sky, a place whence dreams Come down to be born. Then go back to die when ripped at the seams, too thin and outworn. I once caught the sight, —For real? I can’t say— But something came near: A picture of light On a summertime day, in a summertime year. I’d walked through a swamp, a place I don’t know, the flies at my ear. —A first youthful romp— Not sure where to go, nor whether to fear. I entered the wood. The maple limbs long; the cherry limbs dead. The fragrance was good. I burst out in song and chewed my rough bread. A circle of light invaded the trees o’erwhelming my eyes. The wood shrank from sight like fog in the breeze. I looked up the rise. The great sky aloft was bluer than blue with green grass below. And, softer than soft, It dazzled with dew In the mid-morning glow. A field without end awave in the wind. I marveled a space. No daring would send Me in, lest I sinned and tarnished the place. And then, without thought, I wandered away Back in to the shade, Forgetting the spot, Nor marking the way my wandering made. I never could find that vision again, Though many times trying. Did I become blind? If so, then how? When? Was memory lying? It’s now been worn thin with asking how true, or if my dreams lie. And so it folds in and vanishes through the hole in the sky.
So amazing to receive this on Holy Thursday just before the service of the 12 passions of Christ, the burial services and the resurrection - Holy Pascha - Christ is risen! Trampling down death by death! I am praying for you Will. Pray for me a sinner. You are sorely missed, but we will meet again!
Impressive - ABCABC requires a lot of forethought to scheme.