Alumni/ae Tuesday – Karl Plank, MDiv’77, MA ’80, PhD’83
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CAVE AIR
For me the ideal venue of worship is a cave—Ed Farley (1929-2014)
in memoriam
somewhere a cave
awaits
ingress
and introit|
at the edge
of sanctuary
a chant sotto voce
not disturbing
the fluted flowstone
the blind salamander
or the moist air
we breathe
in the dark
where You are
canons permit
candles
on the ledge
but better a taper
in hand
as faces emerge
from cowls of shadow
and walls
quiver quietly
inhale
exhale
but let words
be spare
hard-hewn
as the rock
and born
of its silence
whisper
here i am
(as at your mother’s
deathbed)
sigh yes
(as at your daughter’s
crib)
and little else
yours is to listen
for the pulse
of the wolf spider
in its courtship
dance
the drop of water
to a distant pool
and the high-pitch
of wind
in cleft
and crevice
from an opening
beyond
(where You are
also)
Karl Plank
Karl Plank (MDiv’77, MA’80, PhD’83) is the J.W. Cannon Professor of Religion at Davidson College in North Carolina. His recent poetry has appeared in publications such as Beloit Poetry Journal, New Madrid, Spiritus, The Cresset, and Poetry Daily.