The Opposite of a Pastel Rainbow
If you were god Apollo, you could tell
The sun hawks, “Bring adventure to me here
In form of youth and let the man expel
Opponents of the notion that male fear
Is part of worship and of love. Let him
Hold bravery in himself and pilgrim way
To me past India, an antonym
Of cowardice who thinks low dread is prey
To soaring manliness. He hopes my force–
Made up of radiance and melody
And poetry–must be the truest source
Of sculptors’ marble masculinity.
Reward him, guide him to my realm of light
Though arcing death destroys his daring might.
~ Phillip Whidden