Alexander at Issus


.
.
        To win all,
                  risk all
        be rid of things
        impose a price
        enact each
        in its moment's time

        preserve discipline...
.
                 instill in others
                 this godly roar...
                 upon the courage of each
                 (whispers)           the fate of all ...

***                                 ***
IN the romance of the forest    *     He sees the baths, spices
the generals praise him       *         & fragrances; this is kingly
& mention only in exception  *        being opposed to mediocrity
his erotic companions           *        Family of the buried dead immune
-- true to the one and           *        to local taxes; flexible chivalric
 
.
     (plainly stated)           --lovers
.
.
 He believes himself          blessed
                              darkly conscious
            and who is there to contradict him?
.
.
 Not Darius, thrown in a ditch by his own officers
       his women willingly gone over,
.
.
   His beauty & utility a complete ability
            to chart & rechart a course
.
             ***               ***                 ***
.
       To win all, quit all, abide the goal
             make of it a study
.
.
.
     enfold yourself in whiteness
      give fealty to subtlety
      follow all prescription
.
.


©1996, 2000, by James A. Gardner

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