The White King and the Black

The White King sate on his throne,
  around him good company;
but he dwelled on another one,
  who would not let his heart be free.
Take heed, for it shall be shown
  whom that other wight could be.

Far deep in the frozen south
  where wind and snow bite hard,
like fangs of a wild boar's mouth,
  yet leave a man unscarred,
there lived a people uncouth
  whom the world's peace had marred.

This race was not inhuman,
  at least not in flesh nor form,
but lived by ways uncommon:
  they were swift to raise an arm
on friend as well as foeman,
  thrilled to offend or harm.

These queer folk had a leader,
  he was known as the Black King,
although his kingdom was whiter
  than even the downy swan's wing.
Be assured, he was bent on slaughter,
  and less of a man than a thing,

a thing that with spear or axe          
  would slay like a machine,
his heart as lifeless as wax,
  naught but cogs and wheels within;
and with that breath at your backs
  a chill crawls under the skin.

On such the White King pondered.
  As he tired, his grim thoughts strayed.
He fell asleep, and he wandered,
  in a dream, through a masquerade,
where all looked upon him, and wondered
  which side of the board he played.




9.21.13

Ancient Conflict

"Whence came the Great Spirit?
upon whose breast
did He His strength inherit?
At who's behest
Did He come in the sky
and claim that I am I ?"

The doubting warrior queried.
And quoth the chief,
"Whispering Snake has tarried,
without relief,
so long on the path of battle
his head begins to rattle."



meh. 9.19.13

Singing Gardens

On the earth of jails and gallows
singing gardens will bloom - Menke Katz


On the earth of jails and gallows,
singing gardens will bloom;
the prison house, with rat and louse,
will be swallowed up in gloom.

On seas of scows and whalers
a silence will fall again,
gilt with sun's gold, as in days of old,
before the seafaring men.

In cities that once were prairies,
fields, and green woodlands vast,
big grids will fail, as sirens wail
in a darkness that will last.

In nations that once were empires,
where industry fattened on war,
banks will tumble, and want will humble
the rich man and the poor.

On the earth of jails and gallows
gardens will sing and grow wild;
and Christ the meek will teach and speak
in the breath of a sleeping child.



 - 9.17.13

Owl on the Mere

Baleful his note of warning
repeats among cattail and reed,
in the murk of the deep morning
when he begins to feed.

Coneys from their safe warrens
and mice from their burrows creep;
but round these blighted barrens
the waterfowl are asleep.

Over the mere's still water
he scans with his weather-eye,
where skims the spindle-legg'd spider
and floats the green dragonfly.

Now with a swift, silent gliding
he swoops upon his prey;
scared creatures fly into hiding
to wait for the glimmer of day.

Baleful his note of warning,
to any who listen here.
Now, crowned in the gold light of morning,
sleeps the owl on the mere.



9.16.13

Harrowing River

The red Harrowing River,
under a moonlit night,
could make a mastiff shiver
and turn its master white.

Cold and wide, her waters
are rife with many a soul;
many men's sons and daughters
in her deep fathoms roll.

Her shores awash with evil,
her nadir heaped with death,
this sinuous, sliding devil
would stop an infant's breath;

would heave a crest at Yahweh,
had she that high a grasp,
and, were not Christ so far away,
on His hem she would clasp.

Should the Lord forgive her,
pray let us not forget
that baleful Harrowing River
that runs through man's heart yet.



 - 9.14.13

Little Davy

Little Davy
reached down
to the ground
put a pebble in a sling

then he took a swing
of the thing
and look, that boy
took that big muthafucker down

Goliath
go lieth in thy grave
for Little Davy
hath saved the day

and you are on your way
we pray
(maybe)
to the bosom of the Lord



first week plus one day 9.2013

BalancE

You cannot guide by stick or stone.
You cannot govern from a throne.
You cannot teach with stone or stick.
I know this like arithmetic.
What do I know of math, my son?
The answer is: one minus one.



9.4.13