The History of Self Defense

Okay—

Let’s say

there’s a man.

A wish-horse

a wanderer.

Let’s say that he is your friend.

Let’s say this man

has tendencies.

Sings more than he speaks.

Dabbles in mastery.

Let’s say he’s a leader

un-warriored and pure.

Mangled in mercury

marveled by math.

Let’s say he is an only child

though siblings

grace his chart.

Let’s say he prefers

make-believe.

Sees science in his art.

Now what does

“make-believe”

mean to you?

Not real? Fictitious?

Imaginary? In the mind?

Distinguish this

from dreams.

Distinguish from God.

Now back

to the man.

Back? Why back?

Stay in place.

Let’s say this man has wings.

Let’s say this man

can walk in place

and glides through everything.

Let’s say

this man

has chosen

sides.

Let’s say

that he

rebels

against the norm

prefers the storm

and rhymes when

meanings swell.

Would you rather

he paint your chapel?

Would he rather

build a chair?

Would you rather

give him pen and pad

to calculate the air?

Would you bid him

lead an army?

Would you give him

a guitar?

Would you offer

him a place to sleep?

A blanket and a meal?

Would u trust him

where your children sleep?

Would u teach them

how to kill?

Would you trust this man

with precious gifts

bestowed through

nature’s will?

The history of Self Defense

was seldom writ in stone.

The priests who

kept their secrets close

believed in flowing robes

and in them stored metallurgy

of currency and cross

to pick through stone and sever bone of bulls,

of rams, of goats . . .