Feast of the Dazzling Bird
Under hot orange sky and dry air
A Dazzling Bird strange and obscure
Traces broad curves and wide circles
Above grand men of the forum.
Word soon spreads of feathered beauty.
Citizens boast of beholding
Iridescent plumage, deft flight
A captivating foreign song.
Two days the Dazzling Bird flies free
Delighting patrician and slave.
Market chatter of weary drought
Ascends and turns to fresh desires.
Now Augurs eye the Dazzling Bird
Confer with the astronomers
And profess the revelation
Of fertile signs of good harvest.
—
At dawn, a youth, lithe and daring
Captures the Dazzling Bird resting.
In handsome pride he struts past us
Carries to Saturn the great prize.
On this night, hot rains grace the fields.
We weep and we dance and we bathe.
In the damp morning the Consuls
Bid a Feast of the Dazzling Bird.
We hoist amphora to the square
Sun-reddened men stumble to line.
Wine blurred gaze desires the object
Silent and still in golden cage.
Now at last the city is glad
Troubles of this arid season
Vanish from mind, and swirling heads
Forget even the Dazzling Bird.
—
Sun descends and a soldier comes.
In fast concern he delivers
Unto our drunken government
Word of far battle, legions lost.
Priest and consul and general
Meet fearing enemy and mob.
Old haruspex furrows his brow
Then seizes out the Dazzling Bird.
We crowd, mixed with men in toga
The temple where with ritual
Sacred blade splits the crying thing.
Red mysteries spill to marble.
Now with purpose and ancient prayer
Above the Dazzling Bird they trace
Soft lay of entrails and organ.
These masters make their hidden truth.
—
Ancient Etruscan orates in
Paternal voice to hush our fears.
Speech adorned with heroes and gods
Promises a fresh victory.
Citizens rejoice as wine pours
There are games and gossip and song.
Slurred prayers and oaths from purple lips
Praise the life of the Dazzling Bird.
Now a novice keeps the order
Straightens the temple ornaments
Now down unto the Dazzling Bird comes
A girl, an urn of water, lye, and a sop
by Hal Walker
