come let us praise
the contrarian
on the eve of his fourth
and two score
as he dares
to warn of tomorrows
but what for?
to be lovingly, gratefully,
remembered?
to be shot perhaps
hanged or indicted?
no, just to give
all he came here to give
unrequited
in the words that he hopes
become granite
he writes as he must
without pay
freed, never wanting a thing
they'd take away
it turns out freedom's also
a prison
to escape it you must
test the bars
in so doing
the muscles become stronger
but it leaves scars
so please do not pity
the contrarian
the shame of his being
so right
for everything you see
is temporary
even hindsight
stephenhsmith
30sept2006
