Rise before the sun remembers
ten minutes from now I’ll have the strength to burn;
walk leisurely in the dew-bright grass
knowing you’ve outsmarted the cosmos.

Fall with bended knees on a family of sitting rocks
and debate the virtue of bravery with Virgil
as autumn oaks look on with curiosity and
whisper to themselves rustling murmurs of
agreement disagreement surprise.

Spit in the face of Apollo when
he tries to shove you aside with fevered vigor
afriad of the day your comprehension touches
in shadows it is safe to walk.

Rise to fall and fall to rise:
you are your own hand up again.

But I will always be there smiling
as I know your hand was there to grasp
as mine was for you.