The Tower Rebuilt
I shall resolve to leave this
Place now...
And steadfastly search out,
Nestling between ridge and bluff
Amidst the folds of a foreign
Land,
Several acres of unkempt ground
Fallow and rough;
Upon which stands...
Crumbled stone walls
With an exposed slate roof in
Some state of disrepair,
And a rounded brough
Complete with smooth,
Well trodden steps
Twisting around a narrow stair.
An Inglenook, therein,
Will I construct,
With deep reveals to cheer me
In my idling days,
And wide spanning arch
To sit before and stay the onset
Of this old age...
And all its creeping ills;
While in all the subtle crafts
In which I was taught
to be so ably Skilled:
Rebuild this castle
Inside the wistful echos
Of these deeply-spilling
And far resounding hills.
Then, with mind well set,
complete with muscles willing
Sinew
And perspirations honest sweat,
I shall toil upon this task;
For a little more precious time,
Coupled with fortitude and
Diligence,
In truth, is all one my humbly
ask.
And by my will...
And by my command -
Raise up these fallen blocks
Once more
Upon this goodly land.
For could it happen that
Every night,
Before I gladly retire,
I glimpse a trace of those whose
Face
Haunt the hot flames of my steady
Fire?
Disregarding manifested nightly
Shadows,
That, in their lonely spectral
Travels,
Creep across old squeaking boards...
Lain at right angles
Over the creaking joists
Hidden under ingrained,
Dusty, oaken floors.
And placing down my thick and
Heavy,
Red leather-bound book
I reach across for thread,
Sharp needle and hook;
When picking up the threadbare
Blue-velvet rags...
I stitch in the bright silvery stars
We once eagerly reached for,
But did not quite grasp,
In our younger days as lustier
Lads;
Perhaps pausing in mid-motion,
With a rueful look,
To pensively consider of that
Weary road
One lone stray drummer,
Still steadily drumming -
Steadfastly took.
Consider! Accession is but a
Trifle -
The anointed destiny of all
Royal Kings...
And all earthly prizes pale asides
Whatever riches accumulated
Wisdom gradually brings:
Born of labor,
Re-doubled effort,
Born of non-compromise...
And fated,
Gently resigned, nodding sighs.
Rising now on upright stiffening
Bones...
Listening to the dark hours
Belated howls
Rise over the laments
Of the Lime-torched rafters
Swelling moans;
And, plodding slowly upwards
Of my bell-less tower -
Seek out welcome sleep
Within my shaking, wind swept
Bower!
Slung low under the eastern
Point
Of a sharp crested Moon...
The radiant Dog-Star
Floods its rainbow colours through
Narrowed slits
Of the high turreted room.
Port-side lies my yawing bed
Rigged-out in white linen sheets;
Amidships my mattress spread -
Two firm pillows serve as cabin
To plunge about my weary head!
Storm rages down...
And storm blows below -
Redoubtable little boat
Swung back and fro!
Tossed and tipped from trough
To pitch:
Resolute timbers - Lashed afloat
This angry ditch!
Caught in the deep channel
Of my chaotic bind...
To seek safe haven I do
Endeavour to find:
A safe harbour on some newly
Formed virgin shore;
Along whose gentle currents
My sturdy tiller swings...
And now steers for -
Upon the white spumes
Of a steady bore.
Now...
Far, far, far above,
Past where Andromeda yields,
And Hercules, who upon the head
Of Draco kneels;
And far, far, far beyond
Interstellar dust -
Adorned the blazing Constellations
Throng...
I walk between the milky-ways
Of sunlit nights and shinning
Eternal days...
Which relentlessly spiral
Aboard boundless rays.
For, it seems, that a man can
voyage over the unfathomable
Bars
To chase his elusive dreams
Among the crowded stars;
Where, cutting the black voids
With heavens lights:
Hissing crystal tails of vaporous
Comets -
Condense within the blazing trails
Of burning meteorites!
Indeed! Men may sail on celestial
Seas -
As they traverse the showering
Heights:
Exploding forth in grandest
Majesties
In golden realms of the Gods
Hurled smites!
Seek their solace upon Eternities
Unending oceans -
Their fortunes blown by solar winds:
Mortal souls searching in perpetuity
Until the dawning revelry then
Rescinds.
Answering the call to old Gabriels
Horn,
As dappling sunlight creeps across
My undaunted little tower,
I open my eyes to the new born
Morn -
When summoned to the beckoning
Hour.
Descending from my fortified
Might,
Reinforced with new found zeal,
I reflect upon this newly provoked
Insight -
As the happy chapel bell begins
To joyously peel!
So awaken, Herald!
And usher in ennobled thoughts,
For enlightenment sought,
Inside where aspirations deem
To dwell.
Just as the planted seeds,
Of much great nourished deeds,
Do so germinate - all naysayers to
Dispel;
As all lofty creeds,
Must at some point,
Readily concede, in time,
To the bleak tolling
Of the cruel fates final knell!
Therefore, put yourself to the
Immediate task,
Against all obstacles however
Mean or extreme,
Whilst upon the faithful handle
Firmly grasp
Of worn tools whose blades are
Worthy and keen.
When bending your strong back
To take the strain,
Denying any quarter or appeals
To moderate refrain,
Over adversity you justifiably
Deign:
Your laudable goals,
Thus, to surely attain.
Hear me then!
Build tall your Broughs,
Withstanding fancies flight,
Disregarding all those
Who may well try:
Seek to disparage, ridicule and
Slight.
Suffer not scoffers, knaves
And braying fools
But raise up your proud
Monuments
Wherever you should most joyfully
Choose!
For in among the ruins where
Failure steals:
So prevails triumph -
To forever chase his grim presence
From your low-rubbled fields!
My gratitude to my good friend Mr George Dee Vuy for inspiring me to conceive these
last three verses with the beautiful word..."Ennobled"!!
Many thanks, George!
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