Sheba’s Gifts to Solomon

Queen Sheba loads forty inules with gold bricks 
as gifts for Solomon. When her envoy and his party 
reach the wide plain leading to Solomon's palace,
they see that the top layer of the entire plain 
is pure gold. They travel on gold
for forty days!
                     What foolishness to take gold
to Solomon, when the dirt of his land 
is gold. You who think to offer
your intelligence, reconsider. The mind 
is less than road dust.

The embarrassing commonness they bring only 
slows them down. They argue. They discuss 
turning back, but they continue,
carrying out the orders of their queen.

Solomon laughs when he sees them unloading
gold bars.
               "When have I asked you
for a sop for my soup? I don't want gifts 
from you. I want you to be ready 
for the gifts I give.

You worship a planet that creates gold. 
Worship instead the one who creates the universe. 
You worship the sun. The sun is only a cook. 
Think of a solar eclipse. What if you get attacked 
at midnight? Who will help you then?”

These astronomical matters fade.
Another intimacy happens,

a sun at midnight,
with no east, no night or day.

The clearest intelligences faint, 
seeing the solar system flickering,
so tiny in that immense lightness.

Drops fall into a vapor, and the vapor explodes
into a galaxy. Half a ray strikes a patch of darkness.
A new sun appears.
                             One slight, alchemical gesture,
and saturnine qualities form inside 
the planet Saturn.

The sensuous eye needs sunlight to see.
Use another eye.
                         Vision is lurninous.
Sight is igneous, and sun-fire light very dark.