Safe Harbor

 

I climbed the solemn slabs of stone

Ascending toward the marble throne

The mantle of the sky hung low

A muffling cloak of silence

​

With measured metronomic step

I rose up to the temple lip

To gaze upon magnificence

On majesty and greatness

​

Inside the hallowed sacred chamber

I stood, like those of countless number

Contemplative, listening

To distant noble echoes

 

Staring upward, awed with wonder

I heard a sound, a gentle flutter

And soft unholy mocking cry

Intruding on perfection

​

When the culprit there I spied

My eyes, astonished, opened wide

"What blasphemy!" I nearly cried

What insolence! What madness!

​

There beneath the words engraven

A demon perched in newfound haven

A thoughtless cruel and heartless heathen

Desecrating history

​

And yet our leader, unperturbed

Sat still and uttered not a word

Gave refuge to a tiny bird

Who'd never known his name

​

After long reflective thought

My anger died, at last went out

I understood just what had

Played so clearly out before me

​

Even dead a hundred years

A kindly heart can persevere

Give home to beast, give calm to fears

Give hope to men forever