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The Adoration of the Peacock
—on The Adoration of the Magi by Fra Angelico
and Fra Filippo Lippi
The world is a-gawk at a gaudy surprise,
for kings walk on foot while the commoners ride,
and I, though a Peacock with feathers on high,
fold them up and sit down on the roof of the sky,
for below by a stable I plainly see
the world crowding round Eternity.
Of things of this sort I am partially wise,
for the tales of the poets are not wholly lies.
My feathers are full of a million eyes
from guarding the secrets of Paradise.
For God (who is wiser) has fashioned me
a feathered sign of Eternity.
I’ve seen the gates of Eternity,
where the seraphs roar and the dragons flee
and the spirits dance which no man may see
and the souls amass from all places that be—
and the hosts are too great for you and me
to reach the One in Eternity.
So I sit on my perch with my feathers furled,
for far is near, and the upper world
lies curled below at the feet of a churl
who bends his knee to a peasant girl
who holds at her breast familiarly
the One who came from Eternity.
And I fold up the gold of my dappled wings
to look at the crowds and the knaves and the kings,
for the million eyes of a million things
are bent below on the wonderings
of a maid who holds on her blue-robed knee
the One who sits in Eternity.
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Rachel A. Lott holds a PhD in medieval philosophy from the University of Toronto. She is currently working on a translation of 1600 epigrams by Angelus Silesius, a German-Polish religious poet from the 17th century. The first 100 translations have been published as The Sorcerers’ Stone: Alchemical Poems by Angelus Silesius.
Beautiful poem, Rachel, full of so much meaning with the symbolism of the peacock feathers while using the first person to transmit the message and thoughts that run through the mind of the peacock. Enchanting and admirable work.
Thanks, Roy! And I’m still enjoying your “Twas the Day after Christmas.” It’s still relevant to my shopping experience 12 days after!
Rachel, this admirable poem offers sophisticated discourse in lines that sometimes seem simple and schematic. You take on the voice of the peacock in the painting. He is clearly in the center of the composition, with head turned in question or in adoration. But your composition is neither a beast fable nor ekphrastic in the main. The bird is symbolic, and his words investigate himself as symbol AND the eternity which he is said to symbolize. This is an ambitious philosophical project, carried out through images that I want to describe as “concrete,” but that seems too firm a word. The tone is light, in contrast with the topic, and this makes the development of profound thought seem easily comprehensible. It is a lovely way to achieve an exalted epiphany, complete with decorative sound effects to gild it.
Dear Margaret, this is high praise! It’s funny you should mention both the lightheartedness and the philosophy. When I first saw the peacock in Fra Angelico’s painting, I thought it was just whimsical. Only later did I learn of the historic role of the peacock in both pagan myths and Christian symbolism. There’s an Orthodox church in our town that even has peacocks painted on the ceiling of the sanctuary. It was this mix of whimsy-then-something-deeper that inspired the poem.
I agree. A most beautiful poem, Rachel. Thank you for it.
Thanks for the kind words, jd!
I love this poem! It is such a wonderful, original idea for a poem about Epiphany. Putting the narrative in the first-person (the peacock) works so well both to describe the scene, and to expound upon its significance. It expresses profoundly the revelation of the Christ child, particularly in lines such as: “the world crowding round Eternity”; “for far is near, and the upper world lies curled below….”. The repetition of “Eternity” gives the poem a very musical feel. Thank you, Rachel!
Dear Cynthia, thank you on behalf of the peacock! He’s a bird of one idea, so I’m glad “Eternity” didn’t make things too repetitive. Speaking of repetitions, your iambic poem from a week ago still makes me chuckle. Beware the onset of “heptameter” indeed!
Thank you, Rachel!
Rachel, this is a thoroughly beautiful poem which achingly speaks both of mystery and longing. It’s a perfect fit for the Feast of the Epiphany. Thank you!
Many thanks, Fr. Tuton!
Dear Ms. Lott,
I’ll second the remarks of Margaret (“The tone is light, in contrast with the topic, and this makes the development of profound thought seem easily comprehensible”) and Cynthia (“the repetition of “Eternity” gives the poem a very musical feel”). By the time I finished reading I was beginning to imagine a musical setting, and even a voice to sing it (Madeleine MacNeil). I hope my wonderings thoughts are not too distant from yours.
A newcomer to Toronto, I hope to meet you maybe some time in the course of 2025.
Julian, congrats on moving to Toronto! It’s a wonderful place and is still my favorite city, even though we’ve moved a couple hours away to rural parts now. If you’re close to downtown, you should definitely check out the Toronto Consort, which does medieval/Renaissance music, and of course the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. I never saw a ballet at the Four Seasons, but apparently it’s spectacular. I also think Shen Yun is performing in Toronto soon (?). For the best church music, drop by St. Thomas’s Anglican Church on Huron Street for their Sunday eucharists. Even the regular Sundays are good, but the feast days especially around Christmas and Easter are spectacular. Enjoy getting situated in the city!