Conception

Embryological Study by Leonardo da Vinci

courage is fathered

in a rank wretched bed

where masculine fear

lies down with his gorgon

in a choking embrace

expelling her peril

till foul becomes fair

and soiled linen creases

unfold in bright riots

of fortified flowers

that girdle the breast

with petals of armor

and freshen the beard

with fragrance of dignity

cleansing the air

for the first natal breath

of the manchild valor

now growing proud wings

in the belly where fear

hid his auspicious seed

 

 

(originally posted April 2013)

Poppies

 

“Poppy Field IV” by Diane S. Dean

 

 

petals drawn
through warm blood
drip their sacrifice
staining pressed
peaceful lapels
with remembrance
of lives never lived
beyond wars
lost to exigent
perils of politics
fouled with aggression
demanding and daring
the best of our youth
stand and fight
for the principled
causes of liberty

each generation
has answered that
terrible call
rising tall
to the challenge
each time without fail
laid their beautiful
bodies between
right and wrong
in those reddening
fields where their
valor would seed
and volition
would propagate
delicate monuments
flowers for heroes
to decorate memory

 

 

(originally posted November 2013)

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

Too Late for Valor

 

“Awakening” by Otto Dix

 

 

I used to walk
among giants
made history
hour by hour

king of my soul
heartbeats deep
with the thrum
of a powerhouse

strode across
continents leaving
indelible prints
of my victories

jus bellum iustum
my silver sword
giving defeat
to the wicked

what more could
a mortal man want
from his life than
to say it was true

or at least to
imagine that given
a second chance
it would be so

 

 

From my book Human Waters

Tilting in the Lists

“Joust, The End of Augustus”
Painting by Oleg Osipoff
From boba.rs

what medieval adrenalin
launches me into the lists
I and my lances are ancient
we need younger champions
called to the horse these
are perilous times failure
shatters much more than
a blazon of pride it writes
doom upon shields murders
virtue so long in the learning
wherefrom will emerge noble
hands with the iron grip valor
requires where do goldsmith
cast hearts keep encampment
awaiting propitious arrangement
of evil to mount their mailed
chargers and come to the fore

I will fight the good fight to my
end but I’m poorly equipped ill
with age I need help from some
second with kingly credentials
the black knight has already
lowered his visor and all of
mankind hangs in gonfalon
breeze every damsel with
trembling ribbon outstretched
on the fingers of prayer steam
escapes heathen nostrils and
glistens impatience of muscular
flanks the black steed signals
readiness bearing his towering
master malevolent confident

now is the moment at hand
I lean down and give whisper
to my haggard mount that
the world seems content to
believe we are up to the task
one more time then the start
pennant drops and we mortal
combatants give spur to the
charge red clay flying from
hooves we converge at an
ungodly speed on the center
full tilt for the clashing point
lance to lance man to beast
history meeting the future
and then….

Forever Young

Grieving US Soldier in Iraq
Photo by AP
From isamericaburning.blogspot.com

war is forever young
filled to its bomb bays
with shavetails and
teenage technology
missiles and rockets
precocious with
post-adolescence
exploding where
battleground sands
swallow boots
fresh from rampant
hormonally fierce
sneakered ballfields
while shock and awe
righteously prosecute
missions with unjaded
valor that only
twenty-somethings
anneal in their utilitarian
uniforms cocked with
bold badass belief in
pure altruist duty
breast pockets hold
photos of two-year-olds
each posed for peacetime
against patriot’s backdrop
of fireworks flags
in the arms of their
undeployed parent
uneasily waiting
each pair all alone
amidst crowds wearing
pinned yellow ribbons
with red white and blue
apprehension

Conception

Photo from eivf.net

 

courage is fathered

in a rank wretched bed

where masculine fear

lies down with his gorgon

in a choking embrace

expelling her peril

till foul becomes fair

and soiled linen creases

unfold in bright riots

of fortified flowers

that girdle the breast

with petals of armor

and freshen the beard

with fragrance of dignity

cleansing the air

for the first natal breath

of the manchild valor

now growing proud wings

in the belly where fear

hid his auspicious seed