Les Anges Danse Macabre (With Medieval Marginalia and Footnotes)

 It is a distracted funeral procession that follows me
eating and drinking – baked meats and black basil wine
before returning to their sober work.

Anthropomorphic Death dances me to my unmarked grave
with church bells at the midnight hour
the deceased and the debased join the roundel.

“When the feasts and festivals crowd close no division holds

saints and revenants dance together till dawn.”

-From the Winter Folios. Unknown illuminator, 13^th c.

Then, when the song is done and the rooster crowed
The dead will rest as Calvinists mark the day
with gunshots and congressional resolutions.

Come in disguise, on this night of silence, it will not matter
Stopping and starting and stumbling through cues
We will know who from whom.

“The choirs grow thin and the dead take up the missing harmonies.

The Lord has predestined both the song and the silence.” *

-From the Winter Folios. Unknown illuminator, 13^th c.

There is no need to explain. We saw the orchestra
move into the choir – both out of step and out of tempo.
This does not confuse. Neither this nor the organs destroyed by flood.

A chapel is built on the site of the demolished church.
But I have no time to wonder over stones
I will be home and dreaming soon, my love.

* Scholars remain puzzled by the chronological difficulties presented by these marginalia. What did a 13^th century illuminator, working in Armenia, know of the 16^th century, Swiss reformer, his theology or his followers’ predilection for firearms? Several theories have been proposed – ranging from the obvious allegations of fraud and forgery (though paleographic and manuscript studies seem to preclude this) to more bizarre, speculative ideas of time displacement (which is not to say time travel). Perhaps the anonymous illuminator was gifted with prophetic vision or second sight. Though perplexing, the marginal notes appear authentic.