– 97 –

Fear Not

Louise's Dad brought round some grapes and a book on African Artists.
He directed me to James Hampton, whose only artwork,
The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nation's Millennium General Assembly,
was discovered after his death.
Quite clearly it was a life's work,
massive and intricate, the gold and silver foil-covered objects
reflecting light in a billion directions.
In his garage he painstakingly assembled cardboard cutouts.
He drew on his collection of jelly glasses, desk blotters and mirror fragments.
Discarded lightbulbs and old furniture made their contribution, and were not missed.
He put quotations about divine grace on the left side,
on the right about Moses and the Old Law.
At the top of the throne a sign so small it is almost invisible reads FEAR NOT.
A following page features a brown photograph,
and though I don't think it was taken during the depression,
James Hampton looks solemn and hungry.
His glasses perch like a close-spying bird.