Of What Place -

Of what place have you come to me Under or around which I had yet to provoke Thwarted as I rummaged there - unsated reverie Sought relief of chagrin's relentless heat I took hidden in treeless shadows Given to surrender and resigned An acceptance of which I consternate Longing for mansion's elusive promise Still, turned away at its guarded gate - prostrate

Of what place have you come to me That I might find the dreamer of dreams of mine Your proximity so close at hand that I tremble Knowing now how nearabout I'd come With quest drawing nigh its end To tainted thought of life's greatest gift Forevers lost as forehead bled Of scarlet letters to mark my name Carved there a nearly spelled: "DEAD"

Of what place have you come to me Which would have me spared this dreadful decree Lifted from the flattened self, spirited to arise And took to flight one feathered night Off winds of yours, a thermal grace Amidst the millions in sanguine skies And found there a northern star A fate held to me within its starlit eyes

- dcl