Remember Daniel

   They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever & ever. . . . go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest . . . Daniel 12: 3 & 13
   
dear friends and family, Christmas 2010:

on the lip of the river
see Daniel,
palms redolent of lion,
the King's seer
puzzling disaster.
A figure something like a man,
clad in linen and light,
opens his mouth.
A galaxy of voices roars
planting and harvesting of nations,
whirlwind and horsemen and ships,
trouble
that stretches beyond all squinting eyes.
Daniel marks the answer to how long--
a time, times, and a half--
then closes up the book,
sealed to the time of the end.

This single instance Daniel cannot see
beyond the bronze man straddling the river.
He speaks our sightless hearts' words,
I don't understand.

The answer is 
secret, all sealed shut.
But the answer is also
go on your way;
guide toward the right path;
look forward
to bright shining.