He Shatters Heaven
    As a green-gold dragon flies,
    Light shatters from his wing-sails.
    Sparking rays like panes of glass
    Fall away to die on grass
    Far beneath him, in lighted gales.

    His shadow stirs not the world
    Only darkens to deeper green
    The shining and level plain
    Above which he flies without pain,
    A rippling, demanding, fantasy sheen.

    He shatters heaven. The rays of light
    Rebound from him, and leap, start back,
    From emerald deeper than rainbow's center,
    And gold that will not let sunlight enter,
    But reflects it on green deepened to black.

    Wings beat back, and then talons reach,
    Sweeping easily through blinded air,
    Blinded by the mix of saffron and jade,
    And some deep fear not allayed,
    That nothing can live, and be this fair.

    Beauty breaks the heart, brings tears to eyes,
    As gold catches in the glowing gaze,
    Brighter than Ireland's hills in light,
    More fair than stars on winter night,
    Sweet warm father of summer's days.

    His body through the air is hurled,
    Legs tucked beneath him, tail behind,
    Wings falling with a great and steady motion,
    Like a great ship on bobbing ocean,
    An elven-ship that we have yet to find.

    He shatters heaven. The guise of night
    Falls before him; he brings the sun again.
    He wheels and he dances, high above,
    Unsnared by the meaning or name of love,
    Because to love him destroys the human.

    He has too much to learn, to teach.
    He flies higher than the Sisters Seven
    Who gleam in the sky with refracted bright
    Silver version of his aspens in sunlight.
    A green-gold dragon flies. He shatters heaven.