Classic Poem

His fame stole his real name.
Alone, he rose from himself to himself
creating his own roots. The past is dust.
He carried his life in his hands like a spear.
He carved a route, his way, on hearts,
abandoned himself to the desert winds,
putting fate and kings to shame.
The volcanoes gave him birth and he in turn
fathered hurricanes and volcanoes, showing
the world what the power of will can do.
He was the " No " man, the lover of danger,
the most dangerous of outlaws.
When his era indicted him he became judge
of his age, a judge of his judges.
" They killed him " it was said, and it was said
" He died in agony, " and " Death was a stallion
which he rode like lightning, which he
spurred on like an arrow. "

Ink grew leaf in his hand
and every leaf gave birth to a star.
The grapes sang his praises to the cup.
The dew offered his name to the sun.
The road grew old under his feet.
Yet old age seemed merely another
youth overtaking the past.
But whenever he felled a killer
a worse one took his place.
Do tyrants die bragging
as they live bragging? Where is
the predictability of Time?
Does Time see a change of heart
as inevitable? No. True spirit
resists, refuses to inhabit false clay.
Now earth is beyond his feet.
All destinations now beyond
the reach of his lightning
And what of the enemies? Should
he befriend them now? Friendship
has many faces, and although grim,
the foe, only one.
And when did he meet affection
except in the form of a serpent?
When was he greeted by anything
but a twisted smile?
Every lightning bolt, every blaze
is his kin. Every desert is the face
of his beloved.
All distance is wiped away. His size,
his measure erased, but only to increase.

Recognition illuminates him,
even by overlooking him.
Denial meets only with defeat.
All of " them " eat of him while
he hungers. All drink of him
while he thirsts.
All, all deny seeing him although
he is a flame under their
eyelids, hotter than any ember.
Those who try to constrain him tie
chains on their own hearts.
One day Death tried to sweep
away his name but until now it is
Death itself who died in his place.