![]() Flowers Set on tables - 4 of 5 **A Poem by Paris HladBut now, those who still coveted the item Gathered together and began to whisper, Sometimes lifting their narrow chins And glancing at us suspiciously.
Then, one of them rose And pointed his finger Directly at me, and saying
“This is the man who did not fear our shoulders, The one who caused us to stumble upon him, And admonished us with his steely gaze.”
And another said, “No, this is the watcher Who declined his turn on the great trebuchet And dismissed our ambitions as ludicrous.”
And yet another who was among them said, “Indeed, he is both of these men - and more!
For now, he is a thief Who gives our treasure To a grieving woman.”
And their whispers turned to chatter, And their chatter to a cacophony Of calumny and threats.
And this caused the multitude To abandon the hope of brotherhood And to argue among themselves �" Many saying that the covetous Were right to chastise me
But some saying,
“No, the covetous are full of evil and slander; For we have seen with our own eyes How they drew near a treasure That could never be theirs,
And how this man secured that treasure On the woman’s behalf, even fearing That the item he held would Become his by default.”
But now the grieving woman Turned to address the covetous.
And her eyes fell upon them in judgment, Though her voice murmured like a brook In a calm meadow of melting snow:
“What you covet, condemns you to vanity,[1] And vanity condemns you to fear �" And fear to all manner of evil.
You walk like a herd on a beaten path, Trampling all things that are before you.
You immodestly fling yourselves to the heavens, Knowing the heavens will remain forever above you, And that their blessings will remain forever beyond you.”
And now, you slander the good Because you cannot possess the good But can only hiss like serpents at the good.”
Then, a villain who had been silent, And who was nowise other than a goat, Unsheathed his sword and raised it high above The woman who had regained what she had lost; But she neither feared his blade nor his goat eyes. For that which is Eternal mocks what is momentary. © 2023 Paris Hlad |
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Added on February 15, 2023 Last Updated on February 15, 2023 Author![]() Paris HladSouthport, NC, United States Minor Outlying IslandsAboutI am a 70-year-old retired New York state high school English teacher, living in Southport, NC. more..Writing
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