Day 1, Iceland 2021
I. We’re going to see it, I whisper in line. See what? my love asks. The heart of nature, I want to say. I say, the volcano. Exciting, she says. I had not much to say. I gnash my teeth as we are herded Onto the plane in assigned seating. Oh, how I wish to fly! I thought I said. But it was dark and others sleeping. I close my eyes and hear water beat rock. And for a time, the engine sounds subside. I open them to see others behind masks. So too others have come to remove Their masks: their false-selves, Their own faces and spirits false. I cannot know them, and how could I Without yet knowing myself? The blank-row to my right: EXIT, No—my true-self cries from within— I mean, yes, I say to the stewardess For coffee and a crumbling Biscoff. Through the dark dawn, a light shines: A lighthouse? my love whispers. I have seen it in my dreams. Yes, I think so, I whisper back. And look at the volcano! A girl at our right yells awaking the cabin. Unfortunate we cannot see, my love Says to me. For now, it is fine, I say as the plane lands near the sea. We’re going to see it, I whisper in line. II. There, I see it! My love grabs my hand. But she spoke only of smoke. Just the smoke, I spoke back— It being several miles to our right, Sheathed my mountains birthed by Ancestors long ago. Cars and vans Veer right to see it first, As we make north near Reykjavík. We are not to see it now? My love asks. No, I say, not yet. We will see all else first, The whole of the country In one big circle, and end at its Beginning. We will miss the throngs This way. And be alone. Cars and vans Veer left toward Reykjavík As we beat on toward Westfjord. Hallgrímskirkja! My love says. Yes, but I’ve a church for just you and me. We plunge under sea below Hvalfjörður. Look love, a tunnel! You must feel at home, my love says. Yes, I know this design in-from-out, But no—I am not home. Blackness; the light of the sun gone, A collection of moments too long, But we rise into the sun and beat on Toward the church I picked for you and me Free of concrete and man, on open land. There, I see it! I grab my love’s hand. III. Búðakirkja! We loves try to say. Even if it had no name, my love cries, It would be beautiful and right. Black as night, white as day. Emerald the grass and mountain Near and behind, I cry, and blue too The sea below the cliffs nearby. We will remember the colors! And look at its open doors! My love howls over the sea-breeze. As they should be, don’t you think? Yes, my love, as they should be. Can we not go inside? my love asks. I think not, but that is fine with me. How so? my love asks thee. Do we not stand now in its nave, Its chapel and before its pulpit? The doors are open! I shout. Yes! my love agrees, and shouts with. I think I might marry you (again) now. Is that so? my love asks and curtsies. You are as beautiful as the world I see. As the church-in and out-you are beautiful. But we’ve no priest, no witnesses? My love says defeated looking at the sea. Cars and vans along the route pass by. The wind hooks and bellows against The empty wooden church. It is just you and I, forever. Búðakirkja! We loves try to say. IV. Married now (again), are we? And where shall we go? To the heart of nature, I want to say, thinking of the Volcano! Lo! What of the lighthouse? What of the light of my dreams? I offer my bride before the sea. Yes, my love says, to the light- House, you shall take me. Along the route above the sea, I take thee to Svörtuloft, A lighthouse as bright As the never-setting sun. Lovely, my love says to me. Lovely, I say to the sea. It stands tall and towers above us. I think us small and trivial, And feel our love double because so. What is that noise? my love asks. Cawing and cawing, I hear it too, As we walk over to the sea-edge. Puffins! We both cry, And watch them dance and stoop. Oh, how I wish to fly! I cry. And oh, you cry the same too! A hundred puffins for me, and a hundred puffins for you. I look mostly at you as we rest softly on the sea-edge asking, Married now (again), are we?
