Before the Story

Far from the roof, the child, Absalom
Is storming through
The shadows of the throne
Pausing in the dark
To smoothe his scarlet hair

And we are lying beneath the thrones

Far from the roof, the king, David
Begins the ageless psalm
Which rings through caves
And tears the cobwebs
From the sleeper's face

And we are lying beneath the caves

Far from the roof, the woman
Oh the girl, Bathsheba
Bares her dripping shoulders
In a secret room, far from any lover
Far from any man
And we are lying beneath the castles

O far from any roof
We are lying beneath the castles
Among deep branches of silver
And the wilderness moon
Lives above the whole world
And in her light holds us, holds us
Cold and splendid
In her vast and cloudless night