Point In Hand (Poetry)

'Maps of What is Effortless' Francesco Clememte

A balancing trick to illustrate the matter
using God’s right sun-browned hand — His
five digits raised and spread. Wild animals
perched one to each fingertop
they stand like miniatures — patient
in their posing — left to right
the rearing zebra, the tiger next
the elephant the middleman — then
the lion. And lastly frozen on His mighty thumb
the giraffe looks outward to the frame that
                                limits them.

All symbollic — abstracted from the Ark
that saved each species — offered
them a life in folklore — promised
immortality in every image drawn
down the centuries — these
lesser gods men worship as cultures come and go —
recognise the shape of ancient souls
when wisdom spoke in roars and trumpets
through yellowed bones and ceremonial skin —
blood and truth untamed. Yet few men
are willing to admit they’ve lost
the basic art of divination — finding
                                the way home.