I was reading this poem while wandering around Henderson's (used bookshop), and that idea of "celestial stigmata" stuck with me. Just let that sink in for a while... What a phenomenal image...
PS I wanted to find a picture of the sculpture this poem is based on, but I was unsuccessful.
Fun fact: Philip McCracken is from Bellingham!
Southern Cross
(After a Sculpture by Philip McCracken)
A darkness rivered, swirled, meandered
by fathomless fiery currents.
Dense abyss of planes and angles,
pinned by unblinking constellations,
celestial stigmata.
And at the core,
bright blood of the wounded wood
(not cut, riven
by secret canker
now revealed)
tardily down the rough cleft
descends and beads.
- Denise Levertov
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