THE AMBER SPYGLASS

    themorningcomes,thenightdecays,thewatchmenleavetheirstations;thegraveisburst,thespicesshed,thelinenwrappedup;thebonesofdeath,thecovringclay,thesinewsshrunk&drydrevivingshake,inspiringmove,breathing,awakening,springlikeredeemedcaptiveswhentheirbonds&barsareburst.lettheslavegrindingatthemillrunoutintothefield,lethimlookupintotheheavens&laughinthebrightair;lettheinchainedsoul,shutupindarknessandinsighing,whosefacehasneverseenasmileinthirtywearyyears,riseandlookout;hischainsareloose,hisdungeondoorsareopen;andlethiswifeandchildrenreturnfromtheoppressorsscourge.theylookbehindateverystep&believeitisadream,singing:thesunhaslefthisblackness&hasfoundafreshermorning,andthefairmoonrejoicesintheclear&cloudlessnight;forempireisnomore,andnowthelion&wolfshallcease.-fromamerica:aprophecybywilliamblakeostars,isntitfromyouthattheloversdesireforthefaceofhisbelovedarises?doesnthissecretinsightintoherpurefeaturescomefromthepureconstellations?-fromthethirdelegybyrainermariarilkefinevaporsescapefromwhateverisdoingtheliving.thenightiscoldanddelicateandfullofangelspoundingdowntheliving.thefactoriesarealllitup,thechimegoesunheard.wearetogetheratlast,thoughfarapart.-fromtheecclesiastbyjohnashbery