You And You All, And Sometimes Me

Turn slowly, speak softly, and cover your face

For no one can see you inside of this place

You’ve tested the tempers of furious men

Withholding your fate makes no difference to them

In truancy, you’ve grown accustomed to lies

Without intervention you’ll meet your demise

While failure is never a far trip away

You’ll keep it tomorrow, but lose it today

 

Since falling in line is now never your gift

In certain proportions I’ve witnessed you sift

Through cracks and through fingers of people with strings

With evil intentions and blasphemous things

Your carefree demeanor and love for the wild

Has threatened my fancy and grown me beguiled

Though no seen resistance shall curse what’s been sewn

You’ve granted me freedom, in ways I’ve not known

 

But come now, and learn what your history tells

Of warriors and courage, and all that it sells

The liars and cowards condemn what is just

You’re hearing an earful; rebuke it—you must

Now take your reception, and study it now

Can people apply what you’ve given by vow?

Oh never consider the less of the latter

They come to you still—but now what does that matter?

 

It matters, oh most; but it matters in vain

No peace tells the story you’ll earn by your name

And ceasing does not now permit leaving soon

It urges your patience, yet pardons by noon

Ye little of faith are alive without knees

I offer my muse and my most sympathies

Forbearance, I grant you; you’ll need more, I know

Salvation is there if it may strike you so

 

Vincent J. Vera