Rendering Unto Caesar

Take the floor from under me
Take the curtain blind
Which till now hath sheltered me,
Which I might hide behind
From all the glances of this world
Most unfair and too unkind

Take any chance I’ll ever have
Genuinely to unwind
Take the meditation
Which nourishes my mind
But whose public presence
People seem to mind

Take any comfort by which
Civilized life is defined
Leave me this one possession:
My true peace of mind

Leave me the knowledge, step by step
I tried to mend each situation
Till driven to defend myself
By continuing predation

Leave me the understanding
That I overstepped no line
Which might the borders of
Wrongdoing hereamong define

Leave me a conscience clear and bright
I did what I thought was right
Considerate, just and merciful

Though reports of me be full
Of my “unreas’nability”
Though length of suff’ring now I see

Things will be alright, I think,
Inside the heart of me

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This poet is physically disabled. Public housing being insufficient to her medical and creative needs, she is presently living, in order to continue working, in her minivan, publishing all of her works using one thumb on the touch screen of her smartphone, surviving at an income of a fraction of her nation’s poverty level. She would treasure any donation you might care to offer ~ http://www.UgiftABLE.com ● #72D-31S.

Please be aware that it takes several days for the poet to be notified of contributions. International patrons please contact the poet via email or post a comment for the necessary numbers.

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