THE POET

Exiled
in an hour
put on trial
without the power
except of words
making all authorities
even most discerning
think of you
rather as a bother
in every school
not bowing your knees
to academic rules
given their third degrees
you are too cool
for their pathetic A.B.C's

yet catch their smile
with crocodile tears
in churlish laughter
suspecting you are
a public enemy
number one
of the state,
even Plato
wishing you were
not a citizen
without much weight
or even clout or fun
not deserving of support
but part of another
brotherhood
they were after or about,

even those who have
not even heard
or read you as a fool
or a good sport
always misunderstood you,
rounded up for cages
found in every nation
through all the ages
or in unlighted hallways
at the train station
for no court crime
nor adept
at the bourse
except the time
when language
will exchange course,

sounding as
wondrous birds
even of paradise
who stare
with enlarged eyes
making their way
at freedom
as if we were wise
with certain wisdom
as learned rabbis,

Traveling with
a guitar or incognito
alone as a beaming planet
in a sun's glorious sky
by an unknown star
making its orbit way
grateful for a heavenly
mountain pass
or a tiny mouthful
slice of bread
to fill a drinking
red wine glass
rarely honored
by any exhibited class
unlike a king or queen
until they are dead.