Reprisal

I marched, they marched, we marched For nothing now it seemed And I the ego pulpiteer, left parched Refusing to go underground with the stream That carried me before to a sheer Desolate drop, I can struggle unless I fear. So here in the monastry of altar and pew I come again O God to you. Next Time when the fire starts, remember few Were called to drink gall and text And I among them have lived pure to truth Provide a ram for the obedience of youth. We shall unclenching fist feed in fecund feast Unwithering love to every poor Spirited, staggering from kingdom to beast Blind to thy Jerusalem's door. I came because I believe, and tremble still Slobbering at the invisible shadow of your will. What else, each time timbre of trumpet tells here And after wars dead flowers are left What else could counter the clamour of despair And bring me gloried on knees bereft Brailing the gored gospel of its giddy solace Pinnacled on the faith fluttering face to face.