Three

Thence they come, these thoughts again
As I brood, on mind thus dimmed
Fraught with doubt, crossed by light
Naught but rout, mine sublime such night

Shall I muse on love or war
Fall on fuse or seek Paramour

Laugh or cower in shadows of mire
Caraf or bower or madness my sire...



First is love, that Venus sin venal
That gloves us, that makes great what might be menial
Ye Gods that strike us and make us wonder
What askance could discover, instead we blunder

Next is war, to which we hasten, alight
Vex't too far, we hurry, eyes red bright
For what do we stand, for what reason we fall
For lauds or bands, or glory for all

Last is madness, that indefinable mount
Fast it abandons, leaves a cur, a lout
Yet while in this life it hobbles, in-famy arraigns
In eternity recorded is all but fame

William* knew love, was a master unmatched
In his words our nature unmasked, unlatched

Lee* was a genius, in a cause infamous
The perfect warrior, strong-gentle-just

Poe* was a daemon, Pandora, of dark
Yet lauded after, today our 'Goth' art

Which embodiment was true, was pure?
Which could you most admire, follow, ENDURE?

Could you follow if combin'd in all
As Dumas* once quipped, one for all?

What human could be them, combine in power
Would he be tyrant, belov'd?-Sought?-cowered?

Was he Alexander, of whom knowledge bereft
Was he then Caesar, Cleo*-love, General, Epilept*?

I know not who embodied - genii* of three
Yet at some point existed this man, tri-breed

I know which of these I am, maybe
Yet which one are ye, God damned though may be
if needs must decree ye must be
choose from these distinct sep-equal* three.



* Notes

William - William Shakespeare
Lee - Robert E. Lee
Poe - Edgar Allan Poe
Dumas - Alexandre Dumas
Cleo - Cleopatra
Epilept - Epileptic 
Genii - distinctive character or spirit, as of a nation, 

period, or language (plural) 
*Sep-equal - Separate but equal

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