WE WHO PEER IN FROM THE OUTSIDE

WE WHO PEER IN FROM THE OUTSIDE

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You who covet and cling
to a list of safe routines
be vanquished from this house of gallantry
We practice risk and noble sacrifice here
We are wordsmiths and courage mongers
all our acts show the seed of greatness
Not deigning to be petty or meek
our gift is to overwhelm and melt
to speak beautiful words with searing directness
We are carvers of illustrious images
and slayers of yonder hypocrites
Our motto is brief yet stirring
to be valiant and kind
strong and pure
sublime and feared
We shun conventional manners
and leave security on the river bank
Our names are known
but not always honored
They can defrock us and make us poor
but our dignity leaps on ahead
Our wants are few
our needs few too
our deeds mighty
our entrance memorable
but we vanish like smoke
when the night turns to dawn
don't look for us then
We are dashing romantics
in love with mystery and deep night silence
They could kill us then
and we'd never know
our bodies might slump
but storm clouds would form
and in some strange world afar
familiar faces would be seen
and, of us
new tales would arise
stories and fables of lovers and pranksters
who touched lightly
and disappeared
then new sightings
and new adventures
and they'd say what great futures we had
and we'd look dumbfounded
sure that there was no future
and they'd look angry
and we'd be on the run
shouting, "What a queer game this is,"
all this leaving and arriving
which amounts to nothing more
than us
standing still
in the midst
of all this thought-traffic
wondering
who are these people
who seem to see us
when we aren't even here?

~ Zach Magnum ~

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