Epiphany

“It is no more than the moment

       when the meaning strikes one:

Which is not the same as

“It is the moment of truth

       in its extraordinariness”:

Both of which stress the effect that

“It is the showing-forth of that

       previously in obscurity”:

Rather than the present sensation of

“It is the perfect moment crystallized;

       it is the moment whole”:

None of which shall equal

“It is the appearance

       of that which was sought in hope”:

Nor the simplicity and force of

“It is

       the manifestation of a god.”

Definitions, redefinitions

       get the sense and lose the feel,

Are soon consigned by hand

And moment after moment

       to their own ordinariness.

Then there is the effort that,

In word and act, would hold these moments

       to save them from obscurity

Rather than let event and need fly,

And consciousness gather the meaning

       for personal use.

Comes from this sequel

A private sequence

       of which the end is us,

Forcing our none-too-secret hopes

That we are

       and were as others in time.

For it is we who are more,

       more than moments of meaning,

Our own closing, openness

That is the truth

       in remarkableness;

It is our election rushing

From a coming-out to that

       future which is obscurity.

Much more than the present sensation

Is our keeping the present

       from slipping out of reach.

None of which can negate

How we test appearances

       for their signs of hope,

And in simplicity and force

Put before the god

       our single gift.