21.
O, when the heavens' tempest rips the air
And rain is beating fury 'gainst the glass
I rest here at my desk, my windows bare
And muse this second Deluge come to pass
And rain is beating fury 'gainst the glass
I rest here at my desk, my windows bare
And muse this second Deluge come to pass
It binds my mind, and lo, my woeful heart
Does mend against the cleansing of the earth
My sorrow's spent; my worries rent apart
By hurricanes—they work with wicked mirth
Does mend against the cleansing of the earth
My sorrow's spent; my worries rent apart
By hurricanes—they work with wicked mirth
Arrest me, waters—here, my spirit's hewn
Come play some thund'rous baptist, last to cleanse
My soul. Unrest, through your divine typhoon
Will wane as raindrops mist my crystal lens
Come play some thund'rous baptist, last to cleanse
My soul. Unrest, through your divine typhoon
Will wane as raindrops mist my crystal lens
I thank the god from whom such floods begin
This wrath without: a balm for calm within
This wrath without: a balm for calm within
■
22.
I felt my hands begin to slow today
When plucked my strings eked out their tender tune
More heavy than before—as if some clay
Encased my fingers. I am not immune
When plucked my strings eked out their tender tune
More heavy than before—as if some clay
Encased my fingers. I am not immune
From rallentando tempos of old age
Indeed, it was a vision of my past
Which grasped my throat and pointed me downstage
Whereby my dying spot shall fade at last
Indeed, it was a vision of my past
Which grasped my throat and pointed me downstage
Whereby my dying spot shall fade at last
And yet, with time came tempered mastery
Of music, and despite some speed decrease
I trust these practiced hands to referee
Precision 'gainst momentum doomed to cease
Of music, and despite some speed decrease
I trust these practiced hands to referee
Precision 'gainst momentum doomed to cease
Perhaps it's fate to walk a slowing row
From moderato to adagio
From moderato to adagio
■
23.
These weeks feel drawn, the way they wither on
Along you. I can see in you the streak
Of age as duskward stretches far the dawn
More promptly than we'd planned—the night falls bleak
Along you. I can see in you the streak
Of age as duskward stretches far the dawn
More promptly than we'd planned—the night falls bleak
But I can't help but revel in your fight
'Gainst death herself. Her breath across your face
Reveals a truth elusive in twilight
But here lays bare before the morning's grace
'Gainst death herself. Her breath across your face
Reveals a truth elusive in twilight
But here lays bare before the morning's grace
I walk you bed to chair and back again
And wrestle with the wreckage of your mind
Beside you, but outside it. What are men
When sense turns senseless and all eyes go blind?
And wrestle with the wreckage of your mind
Beside you, but outside it. What are men
When sense turns senseless and all eyes go blind?
Now, come away and rise up from the floor
I'll join you hand-in-hand to fight your war
I'll join you hand-in-hand to fight your war
■
24.
There is no God to thank for trials set
Before me, nor for the resultant strength
With which I overcame them. Life's duet
Lies now between my purpose and its length
Before me, nor for the resultant strength
With which I overcame them. Life's duet
Lies now between my purpose and its length
When I was young, I sought the platitude
Of faith, and what it took to be beheld
By eyes above. I felt their gaze elude
My spir't, and so my inquisition quelled
Of faith, and what it took to be beheld
By eyes above. I felt their gaze elude
My spir't, and so my inquisition quelled
These days, paradisiacal beliefs
Flee from me, e'en when I again try best
To wrestle with them—therefore, in these griefs
My triumphs rise as waves birth each their crest
Flee from me, e'en when I again try best
To wrestle with them—therefore, in these griefs
My triumphs rise as waves birth each their crest
When solace lacks in chasing heaven's light
I relish victory o'er earth-bound plight
I relish victory o'er earth-bound plight
■