34 (35)

his plea

1-3
with bare arms contend for me
outrounding shield (great or small) 
so spear (more or less) undare
this now (for soul) as promise 
all to hand

 

4-9
there is a war on body
only body can contend
(shame for net) till wind outpit
as one single chromosome 
did spouse to crib a spare star
secretly yet to testify 
its victory, a whole sky

10-12

all my limbs or bones will tell

"Thou who ever can

within (if any ever can),

thy need is strong as love  

(inseparably) to so enable 

bettering from need such that thy pain 

(as great to save) could even better mine."

(for some with tears would charge us

further with their smiling burden)

 

13-18

yet thus as friend or brother 

to the motherless in mourning,

into my very bosom 

doth thy very prayer return

19-25

yea dumb their silence ever 
ha! (for past) or now aha!
or ding-a-ling for fame to come, 
a feast of time their single claim 
with I at most to serve their while
(a much for little more than longing
ever long enough to numb)

 

26-28

confusion is their clothing 
to unshame by praise 
elliptical as this or any day
(more colourful in Sfax 
upon another’s lips).