Conscience

“Sphinx” by Lou Bermingham

 

like the stern couchant sphinx

whose stone leonine paws

left no prints in the sands

or the muds of the Nile

you sit watchful with secretive

maddening patience

knowing the sinks that

hide tombs of the pharaohs

and all my unuttered

raw motives and fears

just watching and waiting

for sands to give way

exposing the meal

you will hungrily make

of my weaknesses

 

 

(originally posted April 2013)

Timber

“Twisted Bonsai Tree” by pestilentialcreature

a sentient animal

man is acutely aware

of the flaws in himself

human character

comes to its construct

from lifetime of effort

an effort consuming

each singleton artisan

shaped by the ongoing

struggle against

his own weakness

it will not be molded

by dogma or dictate

it must find its form

in the bends and the turns

that give personal contour

to private volition

its objective

is never perfection

but rather progressively

less imperfection

* * *

“Out of the crooked timber of humanity,
no straight thing was ever made.” – Immanuel Kant

Fear of Faith

Peter’s Denial of Jesus
Illustration from ministrymatters.com

before the cock crowed
his unshakeable beliefs
three times denied
revealing the weakness
afflicting humanity

The Rock

Peter in Denial of Jesus
Image from jesuit.org.sg

three times denied
weakness given to fear
the cock crowed

American Archipelago

2012 Election Map
By Wall Street Journal

stark arctic Aleutians
steamy tropical keys
mighty arms holding
liberty out to the world
as totalitarians seethe
at their fingertips
shivering sweltering
punishing remnants
of dead Marxist dogma
sustained by resentment
of personal enterprise
shouted across narrow
waters so close yet
so far mere proximity
helpless to overcome
doctrinaire minds

meanwhile here in
the heartland our
pluralist strengths
undergo a malicious
conversion to weakening
forces inflicting
diseases of deepened
divides between
free-hating factions
that threaten to leave
this exquisite geography
uglified chopped into
isles of intransigent
red and blue stains

Vulnerable

“Flash Flood”
Painting by Van Winslow
From fineartamerica.com

flash floods of fear
gorge through channels
that courage first cut
sprung from confident brawn
in rough rivers of city concrete
but the brawn is now wasted
and courage has no route to run
save discretion’s retreat
threats and dangers abandoned
for forest and flowers
and safe flowing streams
among creatures and neighbors
less fraught with ill-motive
but not so completely
to let down my guard
my skilled marksman defenses
or ironwood staff
when I’m out and about

͠͠͠͠͠

truth be told
I don’t get so much out and about
but I hate to admit it
conceding my weaknesses
pisses me off to no end
yet I know of great warriors
toppled by blind self-delusion
so if I go down
whosoever whatever is standing
will know
they’ve just had
the hardest fought fight
of their fortunate life
but for now
I’m at peace
with all fears left behind
in those perilous waters
where courage stands ground