THE AVANT-GARDE

The avant-garde poet
is often temperamental,
must be hard
as Swiss chard
on his dish
in this leafy admixture
topped by mustard,

A bard of strong belief
having an invocation
of unselfish praise
with a force of phrase
yet gentle as Eluard,
knowing his own ways,

In mimesis and imitation
which is the poet's state
of mind in creation,
like John Milton knowing
as a Puritan
what paradise is lost
will be regained
every promised nemesis
crossed in his quatrain,

As Solomon's song of songs
gave out great beauty
yet he feeling wronged
even as a king
ate down with wisdom
for his culture's kind,
waiting for his salvation
but not from his
immature critics
or the enemies mankind,

Signing in a bard's
invitational signature
as an obligation,
a poet of gravitas
has his own premise
among his coffee
and demi-tasse


As promises of fate
in his novation,
doubting Thomas
expects no reward
at this late hour
yet receiving an oblation
in his power
his ovation is assured.