Male Cardinal in Sabino Canyon, An Early Sign of Spring — Images by kenne
The Freeman
A VAGABOND between the East and West,
Careless I greet the scourging and the rod;
I fear no terror any man may bring,
Nor any god.
The clankless chains that bound me I have rent,
No more a slave to Hope I cringe or cry;
Captives to Fate men rear their prison walls,
But free am I.
I tread where arrows press upon my path,
I smile to see the danger and the dart;
My breast is bared to meet the slings of Hate,
But not my heart.
I face the thunder and I face the rain,
I lift my head, defiance far I fling, —
My feet are set, I face the autumn as
I face the spring.
Around me on the battlefields of life,
I see men fight and fail and crouch in prayer;
Aloft I stand unfettered, for I know
The freedom of despair.
Fabulous art as always, kenne.
Lovely Male Cardinals captured!
Wow! A powerful idealistic poem!
I ponder deeply ‘Hope is a slave; Despair is a freeman.’?
“for I know
The freedom of despair.”
Ellen Glasgow is a great poet.
Thank you!