Peter Adamson

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A Sicilian Vesper

On the 12th century Arabo-Norman cathedrals of Cefalu
and Monreale and the Palatine Chapel, Palermo, Sicily.

 

The gold that glimmers down the ages tells
of long gone Kings and Gods not quite yet gone,
of sumptuous promises, of heaven and hell,
of mighty verities, of Father, Son

and Holy Ghost, Angel and Archangel,
disciples, prophets, priests and God all-seeing,
a panoply so gloriously instrumental –
ordaining Kings in one Great Chain of Being

that chafes at reason’s limbs in darkness stirring,
and racks its brains to prove its argument,
proclaiming tortuous truths unerring,
supported by enormous weight of … ornament.

of carving, masonry and majesty,
in nave and chancel, apse and sacristy,
intimidation sufficient to the hour,
and long perfected art of speaking lies to power.

 


Video-poem version of A Sicilian Vesper

 

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