On: Sarah Tubb and Heavenly Visitors by Stanley Spencer

On the day that Sarah Tubb saw the flamed sky

following the appearance of Haley’s Comet,

she was so overwhelmed with awe

that she fell on her knees outside of her house to pray.

Sarah Tubb knew about such things.

*

Wearing her Sunday best

and waiting for imminent rapture

she squeezed shut her eyes in fear of the Lord.

*

During this time the angels,

who had slid down the tail of the comet

and landed in this holy suburb,

looked at her quizzically.

They studied her chapel black clothing,

the trinkets she’d laid out as heavenly luggage:

pictures, postcards, china.

*

A grocer, out on his deliveries, stopped to share the spectacle

and offered each angel an apple.

They crunched them whilst gazing curiously at the kneeling woman and threw away the cores.

The heavenly visitors thenlightly kissed tight-eyed Sarah

and went on their way.

*

After a time, Sarah Tubb, who knew about the Parousia,

thought it a little strange that she had not heard the thunder of horse hooves

nor felt the earth quake (did she dream a feather brushed her brow?)

She stopped her prayers and opened her eyes.

The street was empty.

Sarah Tubb stood up, smoothed down her dress,

gathered up her trinkets

and went indoors ready to meet the Lord on another day.

*

In Spring, when Sarah Tubb found small shoots growing in her garden,

tiny apple tree leaves silver-shimmering in the sun,

she tutted and tugged at them

and threw them on the compost heap.

Sarah Tubb knew about such things.