OBITUARY KNELL FOR OTOKAR BŘEZINA

When in death lost the soul encircling closed and whole

by which God ever holds his Temple Blue becalming

in golden gnat-swarm shoal the coffin’s ribboned scroll

to its sleep heedless goal by holy Grail embalming

The priest prays on his knees as bone dry rattling peas

by lengthy vesper pleas the rosaries are tolling

possessed by drawn out fears godly dust kissing sees

the royal bier appeased by the quad gate extolling

The King is without heir though long processions share

a sobbing silent care struck down by blow unseemly

the lunar Grail is there and light now plies the prayer

and tolling everywhere to all four corners dimly

Now the throne vacant owed to heartstrings mournful bowed

as crownless king’s heads slow now into dust are crumbling

the septilunar glow that guards the runes bestowed

caught on the portal’s snare fades out in scattered tumbling

The King is without heir so whither herald, where

to heavy shadowed go on death’s horse loping doleful

in coronation’s bare hall sparkling rainbowed flair

the holy Grail in air bestarred by poet soulful