Graffitied Poem by Tom Courtney

build a wall
You labor long
With diligence plan
With mortar strong

The task is all
The process new
Each time you build
With all of you

You wrench your heart
To place the last
Then comes the can
Graffitied, passed

This poetry
Comes from your life
Not another's
Triumph and strife

You want to say
What's just and true
You search your soul
And then just do

Trusting spirit
Experience and mind
That you may write
Discover and find

What 'oft was said
But ne're so well'
Your precious flower
Your child heart’s well

Then venture forth
Present to group
Turn up their nose
And call it poop

You slowly turn
They gave you gall
You'll go and build
Another wall

You know it takes
Some time to mend
Your heart's been stabbed
They tear and rend

Whatever seen
They cannot do
Presents a threat
They can’t let you

The snide remark
The one-line quip
In envy snap
And crack their whip

Those who dream
And those who build
And those who lust
Just to have killed

Unknowing blithely
Slicing through
It's just the same
Graffitied you