The N.C. Essay
Page 5
DEFIANCE
by Keith Gates
A TREE; A STORM; A FIRE'S HOTTEST FLAME
A FLEETING MOMENT GRASPED/ AND BRUISED AND LOST.
A GRAVE; THE WIND; A SUDDEN ICY FROST;
A GUN TO SHOOT AND YET NO MAN TO AIM.
A HAND TO SEE/ REJECT A PLACE AND NAME - -
it's LOST/ a] GOD/ THE HEART OF MAN IS TOSSED
INTO A WAGON-DUSTY/ VAPID PLAIN,
Release a thickly flowing vail of green
AND CATCH IT ! GaTHER IT INTO YOUR CRUST/
.%!/ IF YOU ARE THERE. .AnD THEN AT NIGHT - -
/k) THEN AT NIGHT WHEN NO ONE ELSE IS SEEN
YOU TAKE THIS FLOWING VAIL OF GREEN AND THRUST
IT WITH YOUR MIGHT UP II^O THE LIGHT