Chained to their shelves
Sit Origen,
Aquinas, Gregory
Nazianzen,
Bede, Alcuin, Scotus--
All the wise men
Of golden mouth
And faithful pen.
Falcons once
Of piercing flight,
Chained they must needs be
Or out of sight
They’d soar. But now
They blink at the light,
Like old brown owls
Awaiting the night.