One of Third

A Poem by Yannick Imbert

There's a secret fire burning, moving the world,

Brooding the nascent rounded globe: dew-life giving

A gentle breath, a wingéd love, the one of third. 

Swiftly sowing the faithful visions of unfurled

Forgiveness, he graces this sphere with his sighing. 

There's a secret fire burning, moving the world,

Seeding the land with seers of the Giver—preserved 

By a presence probing the hearts and minds, speaking

A gentle breath, a wingéd love, the one of third. 

Eternal time was ripe when over space was heard 

The Fire in infant tears: hope now prevailing.

There's a secret fire burning, moving the world!

First wails turn to nails: he raised the one who served 

To set the earth ablaze with power transforming.

A gentle breath, a wingéd love, the one of third:

Unseen, humble, unshaken. From its renewed word 

A new life surged and the universe burst singing:

“There's a secret fire burning, moving the world

A gentle breath, a wingéd love, the one of third.” 

Yannick Imbert teaches theology in southern France at Faculté Jean Calvin. He is a Tolkien scholar and publishes books and articles at the intersection of theology and culture. His poems have been features in Ekstasis, Macrina and Times of Singing. He writes in French at: delagracedansencrier.com