Saviour Church, Griboyedova Canal, St Petersburg

SAVIOUR CHURCH, GRIBOYEDOVA CANAL, ST. PETERSBURG In defiance of its Soviet museum-death Reflected in water moved by God’s breath The five-domed Saviour church gives Hope, for its bulbous gold dome yet lives Silent spheres sing of new life glowing With gold-edged scales reflecting, showing In watery swaying flashes Like shoals of precious trembling fishes Each scalloped wavelet free of bondage A floating rocking hollow image Each preserving part of dome Like cell-life survivors, seeking home, Always dividing, always merging, A breath behind them always urging Each insubstantial golden sliver, This restless gilt amoeba-river. Passing boat’s wake - the song of cupola, The surface is alive from passing gondola Shimmering millioned changing shapes Countless gold-coin waterscapes Myriad miracles – smithereens of gilt - Tremulous treasure, shining spilt Water calms from images manifold To cells quiescent, edged in gold. They coalesce. From many are spun one Music of the sphere living in the sun Of God’s golden dome - museum dead - By the life-giving saviour water of canal fed. ............................................................. Note. Ever watched how a reflection of a church or other object in moving water produces small swirling part-images, each undefined but still clearly part of the object's image? It's fascinating.