Centuries and Utterness Separate Them
Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse
Salonika, where Paul and Xerxes stood,
Affords a long Aegean view across
To Mount Olympus. One took on his hood
Of holiness and one took on a loss
Staggering in history. Paul, the saint,
Went on to conquer worlds with words on scrolls
He sent around the Middle Sea. The taint
…….
Of rout forced Xerxes to retreat. Their roles
Of emperor and fervent writer of
The highest principles of faith, and hope,
And, highest of them all, agape love,
Were widely separated in their scope.
..The king went back with tail tucked in between
….Cur legs. Paul sings ecstatic and serene.