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"Crystal Moment"
Once or twice this side of death Things can make one hold his breath.
From my boyhood I remember A crystal moment of September.
A wooded island rang with sounds Of church bells in the throats of hounds.
A buck leaped out and took the tide With jewels flowing past each side.
With his head high like a tree, He swam within a yard of me.
I saw the golden drop of light In his eyes turned dark with fright.
I saw the forest's holiness On him like a fierce caress.
Fear made him lovely past belief My heart was trembling like a leaf.
He leaned towards the land and life With need above him like a knife.
In his wake the hot hounds churned, They stretched their muzzles out and yearned.
They bayed no more, but swam and throbbed, hunger drove them till they sobbed.
Pursued, pursuers reached the shore And vanished. I saw nothing more.
So they passed, a pageant such As only gods could witness much,
Life and death upon one tether And running beautiful together.
—Robert P. Tristram Coffin
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