CANTICLE

This young boy and his sister 

on their skipping way to school 

and everywhere tossing shouts

of laughter into the air. In a shower

of light on the bright whitewash wall 

of the Church of Saint Dionysia, they throw

their shadows. They sign themselves

and their animal friends, letting words

talk to each other; they tell their dreams.

They do no less than risk delight: despite

every dark thing there is in the world, 

there will always be music. And they

wonder: what is the name of this song?