Bright

I found the altar in a bird
And in the trembling castled air,
I found the church within a word
And laid my offering there.

Worlds within worlds of light,
And animals prepared from birth
To meet the keen of sacred knife;
I found the altar of the light.

Flowers, angels, men; the cup
Of water from a thousand stars distilled.
This church of petaled stone, this scent
Of feathered fire, where nothing is alone,
And sunlight is a sermon you desire.

I saw the hearts of everything with pure
Clear golden blood, and crystal all alive.
I knew that every rood was speaking as it could,
That everything was tragic; everything alive;
And everything would die for love,
Like naked heroes cut by swords of indigo
Upon the altar of themselves, offered
Forever to the Lover they desire.