Sky Poem After Psalm 19 by D.S. Martin Silence speaks a cascade of stars wordless words verified by seen & unseen things formed with intent sent to sing to present themselves to make evident all the entire firmament brings utterance only half heard by those not yet in tune with all it means The sky poem breaks forth as the sun rising above the horizon seems to blaze benevolence across the world beams substance & all its energy hurled Nothing misses the warmth or leaves each silent word unheard or lets the invisible go completely unperceived What is it that has been established preserving our earth despite our contrary actions? Does God send instructions for salmon to struggle upstream for the moon & the tides & the grasses keeping hillsides from washing away & the sustained momentum bringing on another day? Are not the instructions of the Lord right bringing light to the eyes strategic in the precision of savory beauty shining bright showing us what to do? Like the flick of a blue jay's tail the pieces come together beyond our comprehension more subtle than the satisfying click of a brick slipping into place a salve to our wounds a blaze marking the trail the morning's first sip of coffee to the tongue In the dark as I drive the king's highway following your signposts how can I keep from veering off course from landing deep in a ditch? How can I discern my own errors before I've slid to either side? Direct my steering my words my calculations Once I arrive at my destination I look up marvel at the stars consider all they declare
D.S. Martin is Poet-in-Residence at McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, Ontario, the Series Editor for the Poiema Poetry Series from Cascade Books, and serves on the Advisory Board for Traces. His new poetry collection The Role of the Moon (Paraclete Press) is a Gold Medal Winner at the Illumination Book Awards, and a Finalist for the 2026 Poetry Society of Virginia North American Poetry Book Award.
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