Ernesto Barca Poems

Ash clouds float
In scattered slants of light,
Like flies in a frozen breach,
Blankets of black cotton pad the ground
...

When time stands still life peaks they say,
As time is forgotten in joy and play,
With eyes wide bright and lips stretched tight,
Those glittering pebbles of tiny white,
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Raise your head, lift up your chin and look forward.

Do not shrink into the darkness,
Kneel not to the martinet,
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Why is it that we not live but do?
To think when heeded,
To speak when needed,
To act on instruction, permission
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T'is not to be found in pocket or hand,
No silken robes or words expose,
T'is not sung, said or sounded loud
Nor in wreaths of glory shown.
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Gratify not curio nor slant the gaze,
Blot not your sense with stain,
Chin down, eyes forward, stretch the gait,
Of him no thoughts pertain.
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In threadbare shoes we travel wide,
Aching feet on gravel grind
One, then the other, and over again
Until a flat crossing we find.
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The cockerel's crow pierces the dawn
Young sun kisses the sky,
Soft moon, in blurry cloud
She melts,
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With callous stride and steady hoof
Through rock and rubble glide,
By gap and gully your step still sure
With death we don't collide.
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The sidling sun drags dawn
From its slumber night and hugs the sky,
Around it, wraps its light.
Hushed screams in whispered chanter,
...