Spiritual draftsmen,
builders of walls
Demanding blind homage,
tithes of false hope
Fortressing darkness,
ministering fear
Evangelist’s rumbling
—prophets who quake
(Rosemont College: July, 2021)
Rough seas, brimmed with foam, shall rage in silent shadows now
Inconsolable love, the great oarsman is no more
Corridors of power heed this dying! void's the bow;
Helmsman gone, gone suddenly the statesman, and bleak oar
Against the breakers, parody of tyrants dooming
Reason and concord. All our weaving, our fortressing
Dented and denied, the bright unprophetic building
Canticles of prayers and praise here balmless falls
America has lost a true son whose life enthralls
Humanity around the world, the bells are pealing
Our man in the shadows had his heart ripped away
Loyalty was not enough, the white salt entered him
Broke the mast, and docked the ship amidst the far away
Rocks, call the lighthouse home, death fogs the signal, and dim
Outlook makes us take note, his task was no easy one
Ousted sanity and trust, cry now! Watch at the brink,
King ego has no friend to solace fear or atone
Embattled words and world, Richard is gone, and dreams sink.
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