Michael S. Glaser
Fire Before the Hands

And then
	suddenly

the dogwood

no longer in bud or unfolding bloom
but full–snow–white, dotting the woods,
lining the streets as if spring–green
and soft rain were not enough, as if

we need this extra moment of pure white
to remind us Yes & Again
to remember the light

before too quickly
the petals drop.

Even if there were only this
this sharp intake of breath
each spring, this gasp of sudden awe,
this glimpse of grace,

this astonishing reminder
of beauty’s frail and fragile place
in the still small space of our lives,

even if there were only this,
surely—one must believe—
surely, it would be enough.

*

MICHAEL S. GLASER was named Poet Laureate of Maryland in August, 2004. Dr. Glaser is a professor of English at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where he co-founded and directs the bi-annual Literary Festival and the annual Voices reading series. He is a recipient of the Columbia Merit Award from the Poetry Committee of the Greater Washington D.C. area for his service to poetry. Glaser has served as a Maryland State Arts Council poet-in-the-schools for over 20 years and has also served two times as a guest artist at the Maryland Artist and Teacher’s Institute. Over 300 of Glaser’s poems have been published in literary journals, newspapers, and anthologies. His works include A Lover’s Eye, In the Men’s Room and Other Poems, which was the winner of the 1996 Painted Bride Quarterly chapbook competition, and Being a Father, which was published in July, 2004. Glaser has also edited two anthologies of Maryland poets, The Cooke Book (1989) and Weavings 2000: The Maryland Millennial Anthology. He is married to the educator, Kathleen W. Glaser, and is the proud father of five grown children.

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