those locks
in seeing
his locks
of red hair
a face as
young to
match
its glow
i saw
that youth
might be
a kind of
metal
bright
in the eyes
of the old
who covet
it,
an armour
some move
comfortably
in, an armour
that should
give its
wearer
a head of
courage,
all fury
and gesture
a time of
ringing metal
that deserves
the most of
our swing
and swagger
whether we
have it or not
to give, give
we must,
a metal that
yet
can be
broken
by a
dark
within
without
a single
blow,
carry
that
delicacy
well,
my friend,
your real
strength
even when
hair and
hours are
white
as moon
on the
west
february – march 2019
Copyright ©2020 Peter Le Baige. All Rights Reserved
The music is from the opening of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 taken from a live performance by the Wiener Philharmoniker conducted by Christian Thielemann
Ruru ki Te Ruru 