The Cardinal Moment

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The Cardinal Moment 


After the storm worms thickened

the field and the crows

feasted on soft bodies


washed up and wriggling,

while heaven, refusing 

not to see, wept


blood. And a drop dripped

from the poplar tree  

to settle right


on the brow of this black 

fever. In a breaking  

thunderous enough to shake


all fear the oily murder

lifted and all the darkness

winged into air. 

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