Ever Onward

The pastor died yesterday and the
Candidate paused and quoted Aeschylus. His jubilant young face
Covered in sadness, laden
With the despair of such a loss. He asked for prayer, he asked for reflection,
He asked us to be colorblind.

The brother died yesterday, yet the sun still scorched the fields of Georgia.
The memories of Willie Christine and Alfred Daniel
Ghostlike before, returned anew, siblings rejuvenated at the sight of their brother.

The son died yesterday, and Alberta could now welcome him into
Her arms. Senior seemed dispassionate, but if closely examined, his nose
Was raised, his face clenched; he was holding back tears.

A leader died yesterday, and a country’s heart ached.
“I’ve been to the mountaintop,” he said, and for a moment, for a deep, sad, stinging
Inhale, the country, too, was taken to the mountaintop to bear witness as he
Pushed onward, finding a new cause to lead.

And the bells, of which he so often dreamed, rang once;
As if paying respect to he who succeeded so much,
When he should have succeeded so little.

But the bells stopped; he would hear no more
In his name they
Stopped, for his purpose, they
Paused, pausing in order to end the romanticism and to
Ask for new action, for a renewal of purpose,
To look on the horizon, as he so often did.

- Nico Gurian, April 4, 2008