the man stands on the mountain top
and turns to light
the man stands on the mountain top
and becomes something other than a man
this is our hope at death
that death is something other than an end
that it is like growing older a transformation not an end

that there is no finality to our precious consciousness
and yet the darkness is all around
and I have never seen a man turn into light
and the only eternity I know
(and it is doubtful) is between the pages of a book
(someone remarked to me once about saint augustine
that you can barely tell whether he is speaking
of immortality in a book or immortality in heaven
so closely woven are the art of the book and the christian belief in eternal life)
and yet the darkness is all around
and I have never seen a man turn into light
and books are absolutely the only eternity I know (and they are doubtful).

though I hear your voice and believe
in the passion with which you sing

JACK FOLEY has published 17 books of poetry, 5 books of criticism, a book of stories, and a 1300-page “chronoencyclopedia,” Visions & Affiliations: California Poetry 1940-2005. He became well known through his multi-voiced performances with his late wife, Adelle, and currently performs with his new life partner, Sangye Land. He has presented poetry on California radio station KPFA since 1988 and has received two Lifetime Achievement Awards.