posied to live

 

lion stalking for that running gazelle

leopard living for throat of a zebra

heron motionless at the edge of the pool

with quick beak prepared, poised to kill

hawk with deadly talons held closer

to heart, watching in the grass below

a large enough target to a quick plunge

and equipped to hold, poised to kill

surrounded by impulses for violence

i wonder whether i should simply

surrender to that principle: nothing

lives unless something is poised to die

© henry victor     03.03.2003

magnanimity

i stand in front of your wide face

facing, day after day, your magnanimity
to permit tiny boats to fearlessly float
beside massive ocean liners

but i still not have learnt that art

of nobility, while you in spite
of your power and your volume
you still respect your neighbor’s line

and you never intrude into that

boundary except when angry
while i with all my smallness
always try to push my reigning

even into territories belonging not

to me expecting others to leave
room for me, with that absolute
freedom to move and reign
 
henry victor     10.06.2002