Silver and Roses, Henna and Myrrh

 

To My Strength

 

If I a mighty, dreadful dragon were,

Of trenchant talon and a breath of fire,

Who in the hearts of men great fear did stir

With wrathful indignation and huge ire,

Someone might ask the secret of my strength,

The domicile wherein it did reside,

To which, cajoled, I should reply at length,

That ‘neath the setting Sun it did abide:

“Within the frontiers of a wide domain,”

I’d say, “wilt find a city of renown.

Beside a lake more stormy than the main;

Therein, a house; therein, a girl in gown.

The gown does dress the breast that holds my might.”

Though I’m no dragon, still that is my plight.

 

 

                        Thursday, February 6, 1969

 

Image: http://www.aullidos.com/imagenes/figuras/figura-dragon-fire.jpg