The Necessity of Beauty
Britnie Dates
since summer ended i’ve sensed
the Spirit idling
in the corners of rooms the greying skies
the spire of st. simeon’s the
soft harbor of sara’s neck.
what is this sensibility beyond
mind or intuition
acknowledgement of the Third Person?
it’s like
wheat stalks leaning in these fields outside lexington
beige and dry gold green deferring to the
sightless passing of the air
which blows where it wills and you hear its sound
but you know not where it comes from
or where it goes.
in the waterless wind they willow and worship.
no one told me this is
how
You choose to be
a Hovering
spread translucent thin
over the screens of being.
how long will this feeling last?
December 2024
Reprinted with permission from Earth & Altar
Peter Hartwig wrote "Holy Spirit in October in the Blue Ridge" during a BitterSweet retreat in 2024, reflecting on the great mystery that is holy resonance. This month our dear friend and past BitterSweet editor will be ordained into the Priesthood of the Episcopal Church. We are a deeper, richer community because of his insights, his presence, and his poetry.
Avery Marks
Features Editor