CHURCH WINDOW

I am a square of glass in a church window
Looking out on centuries of burying
Ground, looking in on a thousand marryinqs.
The muddy lane 1s now macadam. The bonnets

And swords are gone, wagons and carriages changed
To Stanley steamers and street-cars. Gundalows
And clippers once were working vessels, now
They’re toys. And still my fragile unstained pane

Stays whole, a crystal Yankee Janus, slowly,
Slowly sagging to antique distortions.
If only I could blink, I think my vision
Might stay clearer. My wisdom turns to folly.

And the church becomes a proper resting-place
For one who needs a nurse to clean his face.

(16, April 18, 1992)

Comments

The church and window still exists and thrives… look here. After a merger it is now called the United Church of Christ. It was founded as The First Congregational Church… a radical offshoot of the Puritans. Each congregation engaged its own minister. My father’s grandfather was minister years ago.

My father celebrated his 100th birthday in the parish house in September 2016. The parish house stage was dedicated his honor.

[John Alvord – 11/25/2025]

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