The Saving

The Saving

To be of sanguine shine

For no sheep, bird and swine

An inner waking for a shepherd

Fails off all calamity

Curtains a tempered breeze

A hallowed sport

Stopped firm in race

Humanity cries in bitter disgrace

For the attack of the innocent

The purpose never to fall from grace

To keep a smile always

Give thanks to the very air for breath to match

To share, to brighten, to cleanse the winds

The earth, the dust, the measured how

In each step we take

Harnessed and sorting with the human race

The waters so begin, oh, cherished ship

The crippling artifacts of time

The trembling, crawling, fate behind

Yeah, bring the cherished stock

For us humbled, gracious, living flock

Those redeemed in acts of kindness

Unfettered under errors blasphemous

That corner all despair

So leave that there

New life awaits

Harpsichord will know the time

Feathered wake acknowledged then in sink or swim

On your own course

For mine is bitter haste

In crippling fear

That may forsake the moment

While future harnesses marbles of truth

To throw at the doors

*

Entered into the Oxford Poetry Prize but alas, not this time.