Mark Arvid White
8 Across the Heavens
They come suddenly, like a storm,
jingling, they pull him,
the Old One,
the saint.
"On!"
"On!"
Dasher
Swift
streak
racing,
always first
across the heavens --
legs churning, harnessed the wind.
Dancer
Stars
swirl,
sparkling,
motion blurred
across the heavens --
a turn of grace, a pirouette.
Prancer
High
steps
on clouds,
swan-necked high
across the heavens --
beauty's high in the pride of flight.
Vixen
High
mind,
clever
fox flying
across the heavens --
witness to the blue earth spinning.
Comet
Bright
flame
arcing,
hooves afire
across the heavens --
burning rainbow curves red and gold.
Cupid
Heart
beat,
hooves beat,
desire streams
across the heavens --
love's gifting on cherubic wings.
Donner
Dark,
deep,
rumble
of thunder
across the heavens --
these are hooves, beating and beating.
Blitzen
Air
charged,
crackles,
comes the flash
across the heavens --
lightning sears the night into day.
On to the horizon they fly,
heralds of the Birth,
sparks trailing,
they fade,
they
fly.