ambiguities

The awareness of the ambiguity of one's highest achievements (as well
as one's deepest failures) is a definite symptom of maturity.—Paul Tillich

i.
time
is a cunning kind of prison
he will kill you
he will heal you
he will spill you
he will seal you
rhyme
sometimes has no pregnant reason
it will thrill you
it will pain you
it will fill you
it will drain you

ii.
tears
are the salty soul's baptism
they will lift you
they will dash you
they will sift you
they will wash you
fears
fill the life with ism schism
how we tremble
in their presence
disassemble
they our defense

iii.
joy
cometh in the dawn-clad offing
contemplate it
warm-embrace it
consecrate it
rise and face it
cry
when the world is idly laughing
be a witness
to the reckless
whose unfitness
feeds the tactless

iv.
give
though the world is always taking
let your harvest
feed the hungry
him that starvest
share your bounty
live
though you shiver with the quaking
of the poet
whose atoning
shall bestow sweet
peace for groaning

© Copyright 2022 November 19
by Clyve A. Bowen♫