The Assembled – poem + photo by Roger Guetta

At any particular moment

the greatest drama can unfold.

The actors testify and the overall design

is of concentric circles in motion.

Shouts are interspersed with cries

and the tempo is uneven.

A detailed procession of the holy

spin, turn and form angular arches.

All take part, but few retain the gestures

needed to make the leap into improvised motions.

The space, controlled, diagonal, essential,

is the sole participant that speaks deliberately.

Compressed into a series of criss-crossing sections,

time is rendered reassembled and significant.

Compassion lays bear without interruption,

as a formal liturgy nods and bursts into tears.

Embarrassed silence, bent down celebrants

and shining faces blend to live reality.

New symbols are achieved, floods are unleashed,

the execution of the overall transformation is made.

These rules frame the performance

The moment is shared!