In my Commonplace...

Black Rook in Rainy Weather

On the stiff twig up there
Hunches a wet black rook
Arranging and rearranging its feathers
in the rain. 
I do not expect a miracle 
Or an accident

To set the sight on fire
In my eye, nor seek
Any more in the desultory weather
some design,
But let spotted leaves fall as they fall,
Without ceremony or portent.

Although, I admit, I desire,
Occasionally, some backtalk
From the mute sky, I can't honestly 
complain:
A certain minor light may still
Lean incandescent
Out of a kitchen table or chair
As if a celestial burning took
Possession of the most obtuse objects
 now and then-
Thus hallowing an interval
Otherwise inconsequent

By bestowing largess, honor,
One might say love. At any rate,
  I now walk
Wary (for it could happen
Even in this dull, ruinous landscape);
skeptical
Yet politic; ignorant

Of whatever angel may choose to flare 
Suddenly at my elbow. I only know
   that a rook
Ordering its black feathers can so shine
As to seize my senses, haul
My eyelids up, and grant

A brief respite from fear
Of total neutrality. With luck,
Trekking stubborn through this season
of fatigue, I shall
Patch together a content

of sorts. Miracles occur,
If you dare to call those spasmodic
Tricks of radiance miracles. The wait's
begun again,
The long wait for the angel,
For that rare, random descent.

         Sylvia Plath, Watch For the Light Readings for Advent and Christmas