PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

Some thought my stepfather was a cheap taker  

of what did not, nor should, belong to him:   

a cheater, army-smasher, and oath breaker.    

I thought he was one of the finest givers.    

His many acts of generosity                   

disproved the foul libel of perfidy.          

The largesse that his kindness showed to me   

was far greater than it needed to be.         

And when, at the right time, my adolescence   

bloomed suddenly into new efflorescence---    

that is, when I began to love a boy:          

he did not give in to prejudiced whim,        

nor by harsh word or vulgar gesture put       

us down, but, rather, welcomed the joy        

love offered me.  My stepfather knew          

how much I loved to read Greek Poetry         

and wanted to study Astronomy;                

and loved to walk on gardened paths barefoot. 

And when Octavian's vaunted ambition          

sought to topple Egypt into submission       

(because he feared the storm of insurrection) 

my stepfather entrusted my protection         

to those he called Inimitable Livers,         

with a single responsibility                  

to carry out (as they have, and still do):    

who still guard me and certain friends of mine.   

Though Rome's conniptions cannot be too far    

away, I do not think I have been one           

to wring my hands in craven, abject terror;   

that just wastes time---which is the greater error.  

So, let us now direct our concentration         

eastward, as this day's dawn begins to glow,    

just look toward where I have pointed, that line

of sight---yes, right there . . . a new star    

that rises, in grandeur, before the sun.         

We shall record this morning's observation,      

attending to detail in full precision.           

The new star radiates significance,              

fulfilling a most ancient prophecy,              

made by certain Balaam, Moabite,                 

whose calling was no mere coincidence.           

How much he understood, we cannot know.          

Yet God gave him a glimpse of messaged light. 

J-Called

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