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

buying and selling

unlike those days in my motherland, today
in my adopted-land despite its abundance
rarely i find one to give, or to receive
but in plenty are those that sell, or for buying

what cannot be sold is dumped

for elimination with those incapable
to buy, and those who lobby giving
too, will be pushed to the margin

to be marginalized, to be maligned

and silenced like a sheep ready for shearing
in a world taking from, and taking ruthlessly,
acceptable, than sharing with the needy

henry victor     28.08.2013

remaining un-public

as dust insignificant am i, doing nothing
these days, except sitting like a rock
in middle of the stream, that public life
flowing fast without my feet walking

and unlike those with electronic equipment
seated on ground as if grounded to reality
discoursing, but beyond my senses, a living-
out in full the modernity with mere pressing

of buttons, while i amass old postage stamps,
hoping gold coins suddenly appear from sand,
a dream with no great earthly value to strengthen
a dam to collect wealth to transact, to remain public

henry victor     05.03.2013