Uniforms

 

“The Wall of Daydreaming and Man’s Inhumanity to Man” – Chicago Street Art

 

irrational valor

a selflessness

sworn of an oath

to protect and defend

turn aside mortal peril

walk into the fire

stand into the bullets

take illness in hand

a state less of the

mind than the heart

it’s a calling

the voice of an

impulse to serve

a devotion to duty

a knowledge that

one’s fellow man

needs protection

no threat

the more grave

than he is to himself

Blood Sweat and Tears

“Entry to Your Dream” by Mirek Bialy

(originally posted June 2013)

 

blood sweat and tears
are within me
unsweet ingredients
resolving my essence
but they’re not fully mine
till I give them away
expend vital fluids
decant my poor vessel
on behalf of another
some one or some thing
set deeper with purpose
who filled by my gifts
allows my becoming
partner to providence
and in the becoming
I reach a more perfect
expression of me

Agápē

Agape Love
Greek Biblical Transcription From kirbasinstitute.com

love not as emotion
but rather as motive
to act on behalf of another
to follow His earthly example
to give of oneself
sacrificially selflessly
brotherly sisterly humanly

here love is impetus
clean noble impulse
for willful extension
for joyous provision
of charity purest in form
here is rational charter
to love the unlovable

here I admit I fall short
of philosophy fall shorter
still of theology my love
is not so impartial
reserved for that segment
of my fellow men
who deserve it

Timeless

“Timeless”
Painting by Brigit Byron Coons
From fineartamerica.com

some love is timeless
sits beside you
when all the world’s
gone to the dance

some love is timeless
prays in your stead
when the pain
consumes faith

some love is timeless
holds your hand
when the nights
convey terror

some love is timeless
acts selflessly
tending your frailties
minding your pride

some love is timeless
uproots itself
more than content
to follow your dreams

this love is timeless
undeserved
it outlives
this faltering life

Orientation

“Unmade Bed’
Painting by David Slonim
From davidslonim.com

love shares air as it sleeps
tender molecules float
in contented exchange
of sweet breaths between
face-to-face pillows

hearts and lungs correspond
compatible stirrings
invisibly synchronous
rise fall and rest
upon promises kept

through vicissitudes
storms and serenities
blended annealed by
commitment all the
psychical power of two

but some sleep faced outward
breathing their separate
perimeters curled in their
personal umbrae such couples
will never know time

Seasons

“Four Seasons Tree”
Illustration from nexus-wallpapers.com

seasons of self
have the good sense
to fade when
seasons of love
come vivid in bloom
call us out
of ourselves
turn the inward
to outward
make tending to lovers
our driving desire

seasons of self
behave gallant
recede behind
seasons of family
keep calendars
open inviting
our loved ones
to mark up their
want of our time
and affection
that earn the true
value of happiness

giving ourselves
unreservedly
fortifies virtue
with certain nobility
lifting the status
of love in its forms
to prime catalyst
sparking the utmost
fulfillment of
human experience
even when love-borne pain
works its terrible hold
on the heart