Edwin Markham - 3 Poems

The Avengers
The laws are the secret avengers,
And they rule above all lands;
They come on wool-soft sandals,
But they strike with iron hands

Outwitted
He drew a circle that shut me out
—Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took him in!

Preparedness
For all your days prepare,
And meet them ever alike:
When you are the anvil, bear
—When you are the hammer, Strike.

John Donne

Holy Sonnet XIV: Batter my heart

Batter my heart, three-personed God; for You
As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;
That I may rise and stand, o'erthrow me,'and bend
Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
I, like an usurped town, to'another due,
Labor to'admit You, but O, to no end;
Reason, Your viceroy'in me, me should defend,
But is captived, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly'I love You,'and would be loved fain,
But am betrothed unto Your enemy.
Divorce me,'untie or break that knot again;
Take me to You, imprison me, for I
Except You'enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except You ravish me.

Frieze Fire - Nadia

Moments flicker by
like fading F i r e f l i e s
frieze them in amber
-- wisps of light that wanted to die

Richard Lovelace

To Lucasta. Going To the Warres.

I.
Tell me not, (sweet,) I am unkinde,
That from the nunnerie
Of thy chaste breast and quiet minde
To warre and armes I flie.

II.
True: a new Mistresse now I chase,
The first foe in the field;
And with a stronger faith imbrace
A sword, a horse, a shield.

III.
Yet this inconstancy is such,
As you too shall adore;
I could not love thee, dear, so much,
Lov'd I not Honour more.

Fin de Siecle - Nadia

I praise God for your beauty and subtle grace

For the pleasure of your presence in this world

I thank Him for your blessed face

Your energy that renews this place

Like a blue silk flag unfurled