PHILIPPIC

The shuffling of weary feet
---- -in cadence
---- -slow and measured in the street
A grim and mighty exodus
---- -of ashen would-have-beens.
And I must bind my sandals on my feet
and join the ranks of those
---- -who failed when they were able
---- -who planted bread instead of wheat
and drove the prophets from the table.
There is no destination
---- -only fear
---- -and self-reproach:
While Demosthenes
---- ----- was talking to the sea,
---- ----- --- -I slept.
- -------- ----- --

Copyright © Robert D. Sutherland, 1959