too barbarous for heaven

from 'The Hearts'

. . . as once in the Temple

In the time before the Temple was destroyed
A young priest saw the seraphim of the Lord;
Each had six wings, with two they covered their faces,

With two they covered their legs and feet, with two
They darted and hovered like dragonflies or perched
Like griffins in the shadows near the cieling --

These are the visions, too barbarous for heaven
And too preposterous for belief on earth,
God sends to taunt his prophet with the truth

No one can see, that leads to who knows where.
A seraph took a live coal from the altar
And seared the prophet's lips, and so he spoke.

- Robert Pinsky