Burning Bridges

By: Gus Victoria

The bridge built strong once

In decay now spans precariously,

Made decrepit by negligence,

Oxidized in its own haughty air,

Weighed down by superior disdain

Cast upon those that built,

And those that cross

By the Keepers of the Span,

Honor is theirs to squander,

Authority they've spent,

Bankrupt now beyond their owns skins

That like Argus they watch,

Blind to all else,

Truth of purpose

Weak before the habit of corruption,

Caring souls

Labeled disobedient,

Perpetrators of poor judgment,

Reprimanded for inefficient conformity,

The bridge postpones its fate

As obstacles multiply,

Defying its own nature,

The bridge stands feebly

Until that humble soul

With clear vision

Sets it aflame,

The bridge burns!

Embers dance in the night.

The bridge burns!

Leaderless, the wolves scatter.

The bridge burns!

They that in arrogance walked,

Now in despair kneel.

The bridge burns!

Wandering Watcher

By: Gus Victoria

Wandering watcher,

Dissatisfied with life once,

You began to walk

And never stopped,

Through dark forested hills,

Over wind carved mountains,

In valleys and caves,

There you were most content,

A calmness bestowed

By Nature granted

As you observed

Life’s rhythms.

A purity of thought

Filtered through the sieve

Of rationality;

A mystic distillation.

You departed one day

From that sacred path,

To share, to show,

Seeking wisdom

With others to learn,

To grow.

Wandering watcher,

When you spoke

Of life and existence,

Of wonder and awe,

Of death and disease,

In that moment,

Did they listen?

Wandering watcher,

You found by observation

The deep depths

Penetrated by deeper reflection,

In humility you became great,

In love you sought to share,

In arrogance we failed to care.