Before the Story

and from the roof he saw a woman
washing herself. -- II SAMUEL

Far from the roof,
the child, Absalom,
is storming through
the shadows of the throne,
pausing in the dark
to smoothe his scarlet hair.

And we are lying beneath the thrones

Far from the roof,
the king, David,
begins the ageless psalm
which rings through caves
and tears the cobwebs
from the sleeper's face.

And we are lying beneath the caves

Far from the roof,
the woman,
oh the girl, Bathsheba,
bares her dripping shoulders
in a secret room,
far from any lover,
far from any man.

And we are lying beneath the castles

O far from any roof,
we are lying beneath the castles,
among deep branches of silver,
and the wilderness moon
lives above the whole world,
and in her light
holds us, holds us,
cold and splendid,
in her vast and cloudless night.