The Antimonies

      FIRST VOICE 
      Man's choosing fate, unwinding ever, 
      Moves through destinies unbidden 
      As greeting Spring to touching Summer blows, 
5     Enhancing the heat of Life's passing fever. 
      Once touched and forever unbarren, 
      The virgin spirit in solitary procession goes; 
      Like a bee alighting on some trembling lip, 
      Life comes aching to quicken with a kiss 
10    As, year to year, and summer though summer slips, 
      Till rouging winter wakes to kill us with its hiss. 
      SECOND VOICE 
      What, though they fall to Hell, have not 
      Their dying eyes seen sweet Heaven weeping? 
15    And although their day must lapse from less to less 
      As leaves give way to leaves gone brown, 
      They resigned not the green while it was 
      Raging in their veins, nor the tears that sparked 
      Those vertiginious and fresh cheeks of youth. 
20    And although each night must blow winter's hollow horn, 
      Did not the spring dew burn when it was morn?

 

From the collection "A Volcano Island"

Written by Gregg Glory [Gregg G. Brown]

More information available on gregglory.com.