Light, as if for the first time
sifts down from the ceiling
sneaks through glass doors
cascades from windows
long rooms fill with it
whole places swell with daylight
iron light straw light
bright as brass sun-yellow
corkscrews from skylights
gathers in the folds of uniforms
hard as marble soft as lambswool
drifts in corners like snow
sleeps in shadows
light on every body falling
indifferent
animating
sanctifying
(from Jeff MacGregor, “Flesh, Blood, and Bronze,” Smithsonian, June 2022, p. 28)
5 thoughts on "Light, as if for the first time"
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Good title, and I really like the last three lines of the second stanza.
Love the title. So often, we ignore light, but at those times when we actually look at it, there is so much beauty. Enjoyed all the descriptors you give to light.
Yes to the title! I love the idea of dissectiing light
Lovely, especially those corkscrews…
The title is absolutely captivating. And the poem is fresh, too.