Samples from the manuscript The Beholden by
Mary Angela Nangini: one of eleven finalists for the Fernando Rielo World Mystical Poetry Prize 2001
the THEORY: the POEMS: theBOOKS: the ART:
the SCRIPTS : the SUGAR ART
No one can take away beauty
From the heart or sky
No one can force darkness
Upon the mind
To rejoice stems
From the seeing eye:
Of the beauty
In the surprise
From the morning sunrise
Noon to evening star
To the night's rest
Of dreams and healing grace
Of the valley full of fog
steamy mist on the road
Liquid fire
On a golden lake
A cloud awash in watercolours
White light-dapples on tinted sunset rose
Stretching its ends to the beyond
Imagination's axial poles
independent little characters
my freshly planted miniature roses
take their time showing me
a full display of what might look like
sunrise and sunset parades and charming
sunhits and scents with tropicana can-cans
and just like my cats
hold on to their solemn mystery
uncurl tight little packets
breaking out of their shell bulbs
rosebuds peeking through slowly
offering their hint of colour
unfurling petals
ever so slowly
spreading in full glory
just like my cats
that carry long categorizable lists
of individuated habits
when to play
when to slink away
don't bother me
a whole range of emotions
and feelings
are exchanged
when ill - when well
and just like babies
without words
we hear each other clearly
the power of self-disclosure
is open
available
to the co-sensitive listener
I am offered
for my attentive time and care
God-love enjoyment
The Beholden by Mary Angela Nangini
