School Service

at Twyford High School

In the Careers Room at 10 a.m.
Twyford’s children – 46 of them –
heard the words that made them one with Christ.
The window flames. Day December-iced
yet summer-shouting with its singeing flashes
blooded the glass. Oceanic splashes
of flame, of light – the old words were said fresh
as 46 of us knew God’s word turned flesh
in His existence . . . so the light new-made
and old as matter leapt upon our shade.

The window burns. In the Careers Room
the hand of God has lifted human gloom –
as if, for half an hour, some heavy blinds
shot up . . . to let a fire in on our minds.