King Francis was a hearty king, and loved a royal sport,
And one day as his lions fought, sat looking on the court;
The nobles filled the benches, and the ladies in their pride,
And 'mongst them sat the Count de Lorge, with one for whom he sighed:
And truly 'twas a gallant thing to see that crowning show,
Valour and love, and a king above, and the royal beasts below.
Ramped and roared the lions, with horrid laughing jaws;
They bit, they glared, gave blows like beams, a wind went with their paws;
With wallowing might and stifled roar they rolled on one another;
......
Let America be America again.
Let it be the dream it used to be.
Let it be the pioneer on the plain
Seeking a home where he himself is free.
(America never was America to me.)
Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed--
Let it be that great strong land of love
Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme
......
185
"Faith" is a fine invention
When Gentlemen can see—
But Microscopes are prudent
In an Emergency.
Yet at the last, ere our spearmen had found him,
Yet at the last, ere a sword-thrust could save,
Yet at the last, with his masters around him,
He spoke of the Faith as a master to slave.
Yet at the last, though the Kafirs had maimed him,
Broken by bondage and wrecked by the reiver,
Yet at the last, tho' the darkness had claimed him,
He called on Allah, and died a Believer!
Between us now and here--
Two thrown together
Who are not wont to wear
Life's flushest feather--
Who see the scenes slide past,
The daytimes dimming fast,
Let there be truth at last,
Even if despair.
......
I love you
For reasons unknown
Unseen, unspoken, untouched,
Just because love.
I love you
For a purpose hidden
Precious, blessed, divine,
Just because God.
......
In a perfect world, you and I could saunter— free.
Breathing fresh, salt-licked air.
Where the ocean reaches for our feet, and the sun melts into the sea, and the sky drapes over its long lost twin.
Where the forest and the sky and the land love humanity dearly, like a neighborhood that could thrive for eternity.
In a perfect world, there would be no bicker of capitalists and environmentalists— merely political empathy.
I dream of boring news channels.
When red, white, and blue don't seem so embarrassing, nor disgraceful to half of the country, and "liberty and justice for all" hugs "all" comfortably.
When the government is wed to candor bound by the promise of life and liberty, and diplomacy relieves, and monopolies fancy consumers' well-being.
......
I will not fear. I will not be afraid.
Send your servants, and have custody of my eyes.
Send those that know, and I shall know them.
May I look up and find halos.
May I witness to the six pair of protection— the divine relayer of message.
If it takes over a month, I will kill my flesh.
I will embrace holy strength and forego these urges.
Father, may I master discernment.
Lord, I know not the full truth.
......
66 books lay between us.
Innocent love— it's all that I want.
Fingers interlaced; shoulder to shoulder.
Our feet propped up on the living room sofa.
Ask for permission.
Prioritize your own health.
Be honest. Be ambitious.
Care for strangers— gently relentless.
......
There he is...
On his biz
Unbothered and untethered
After many pernicious pulls and tainty tugs
And so many ghastly grabs and sheisty shrugs
After huge stretches with hopes of breaking
And so much tension, pressure and shaking
Every time!
......