Tuesday, September 26, 2017


                     Yeats at his prayers



A poet wrote a poem for old age
words spoken from upon a stage

a rhymer without a thing in his head
he said
       but he was more than that
cast hobbling
just any street knave
a pauper without purse
unafraid

dogs didn’t bark
roots shivered
trees moved birds yearned
cloaked him in velvet
a plume in his hat
Merlin returned to life

they dance together in the glade
youth and beauty courage and cheer
full of marrow
time will chew
bones they’ll strew
Spartan supple
Athenian able
banquets by the lake

he remembers Excalibur

her hand holding a sword
its hilt held high
from
    transparent
                water

Camelot




Dick Russell
copyright © 2017



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