beyond the crown, the miter, and the gown

without the king’s patronage my ancestors alleged

poetic muse will not flow to the street

without the bishop’s consent my associates assume

ministering the marginal is invalid

without the professor’s sanction my progeny profess

search for wisdom does not begin

yet with all my stupidity i did encounter

immortal songs outside the palace

enduring mercy outside the cathedral

and endless learning outside the university portal

© henry victor     11.09.2003

with clowns around

seated beside the lake with no waves

beating the shore, or above the surface
bleating fish i see neither wrinkles
nor the need to crusade for life

neatly pressed while clowns pass by

at times nodding at me to acknowledge
my absence elsewhere in the market
and crowded malls and other clowns

mere passers-by, often with sombre face

and more of others with firm intent to mask
face true, rooted to their heart, with more
to tickle faces stuck to glue of the past pain

henry victor      03.04.2014