Now I Understand

　　 by Linda Gregg

　　 Something was pouring out. Filling the field

　　 and making it vacant. A wind blowing them

　　 sideways as they moved forward. The crying

　　 as before. Suddenly I understood why they left

　　 the empty bowls on the table， in the empty hut

　　 overlooking the sea. And knew the meaning

　　 of the heron breaking branches， spreading

　　 his wings in order to rise up out of the dark

　　 woods into the night sky. I understood about

　　 the lovers and the river in January.

　　 Heard the crying out as a battlement，

　　 of greatness， and then the dying began.

　　 The height of passion. Saw the breaking

　　 of the moon and the shattering of the sun.

　　 Believed in the miracle because of the half heard

　　 and the other half seen. How they ranged

　　 and how they fed. Let loose their cries.

　　 One could call it the agony in the garden，

　　 or the paradise， depending on whether

　　 the joy was at the beginning， or after

　　-