A Certain Joy

These days will pass

These nights

Will no more be ;

Of staring alone

At a starry sky ;

This crushing burden

Of loneliness

Will no more

My soul anchor

To the earth ;

A certain joy

Will replace

This agony

Of an aching heart ;

And these lost looks

On my face

Will someday fade ,

Into a meaningful smile ;

Till then ,

O come all woes

I welcome you !

A Mighty Foe

Where is that sword ,

O lord of war ?

Where is that steel

Cold

Thirsting for my blood ?

“ On Guard “ , I say

And dare you to a duel ;

Jupiter O ,

With lightening strike ,

Strike with what you may ,

Waste no mercy

Nor spare thy wrath ;

And though descend to dust

I may ,

In Man ,

You have a mighty foe !

Without a purpose

On a summer afternoon

I look out of the window

Of a moving train ,

And watch the white clouds

Float in a deep blue sky ,

Without a purpose

I presume ;

And then rest my eyes

On green fields

Studded with tractors

And combines ;

Even an airplane

And numerous windmills

Tanning in the summer sun ,

When the wind is vacationing .

As we ride fast

Swifter fly my thoughts

For soon I am weary

Of playing a fascinated child ;

So with half closed eyes

I send the thoughts

Probing the distant past ,

When one darts

Like a misguided missile ,

Or better

Maneuvered by wishful thinking ,

Into the future –

To return to the present

Without a broken barrier,

( but all its ribs ! )

When the train comes

To a jolty halt .

Behind the dark Veil

This is a very cruel life

That keeps us apart

From morn to night ,

To find

The weary day retire

Behind the dark veil

And us embrace

Reconciled ,

In our enraptured  love

Like mountain streams

To find the other

Down the hills

Cascade .

------------------

Lawrence
18 July 1957