The Chapel at Pan Toll dtail

The Chapel at Pan Toll

The Chapel at Pan Toll is an apparition
standing on the mountainside
briefly held in place by the acres of redwood roots
that emerge from the mud.
Cupid's arrows half buried by the Graces.
The intertwined limbs of ancient lovers,
Venus and Mars
wed in defiance of unattainable love,
Echo and Narcissus
now binding the steep ravine to the watershed
with their earth bound embrace.
The song of the giant's pipes raising up
long forgotten herds and flocks
with the mushrooms from the duff
to celebrate the joy of life
without the pain of living.
The blind Incan Christ
liberated for a moment
from the awful knowledge
that forbidden fruit grows
on both sides of the trail.
The Chapel at Pan Toll
cannot be found
because it is not lost,
but appearing breifly in the rain
that comes after the Fall.

San Francisco 1997

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