Discourse

-I-

I listen to you, sir,

              spewing off your isms like so many

                                                                    holy stones,

                                                                              so many gems

                           to an audience so willing to cherish

                                                                                                every…thing

                                                                  you have to give,

                                           and I wish I, too, could have such

                 an appreciative audience

                                               whenever I blurt out

                                                                                   my doubts

                                                       and apologies,

for they are all that I could give.

-II-

"Stalin lives on!"

My communist friend said. –

             And a certain Old Lion too, I thought.

                                          Sly as a fox,

                                          haggard as a hillock

                                                 in the midst

                                               of a dying city,

                       his isms long considered more cherished than life,

                                                                                                               our life,

                                                                         more precious than freedom,

                                                                                                               our freedom,

                                                                      and far more costly than justice –

                           the one we will have to die for in droves,

                                                                                                     one day.

                                            

For neither I nor my friend could ever have

                                                              such a receptive audience,

                                                                                           for our what we have to say.

And while communist friend

                                   can offer certainties,

                                                          I only have

                                                                                doubts.

January 1999