The Song That Never Sleeps
(For the birthday of Matthew Hill-Spur, who has inspired me with
both the British rebel streak and steady sense of determination)
***
We will remember
The “failures”
The “losers”
The “rejects”
Who dared to be more
Then others allowed
In the smallness of their minds
Victory in failure
Forever holds true
If met with the sword
Of steel-blue intent
And the sparks
Of blood-red passion
Yield and overcome
Songs can never die
Nor do beliefs
Sincerely held
That prove to be
Of lasting worth
Let the small birds
Give chase to the hawks
Let the acorns
Sprout into oaks
Let the wood
Make bows for arrows
And the feathers
Straight-shot shafts
Let them sing
The rebel song
That never sleeps
Whistling through the air,
Blowing in the wind…
Outlaw Prince,
In forest or in moor,
We will hide you
In our hearts
A shadowy reflection
Of a Greater Prince
Undone for our souls
A “Fool on a Hill”
Whose challenge lives
In every breath we take
Rise up, Mockingjay,
Some fires never die
Some waters never dry
And the Land of Dreams,
Of Avalon’s silver branches
With sap of amber
And nuts of wisdom,
Need never sleep
Let them mark us out
As “failures”
As “losers”
As “rejects”
And we will stand firm
With hands joined
Let our crosses
Dot the hills
For every seed planted
Must first die
And then emerge
© 2016 Avellina Balestri