A Day in the Long March

Steel grip of morning
groans of my throbbing body
drown out my heart's cry

Today, the struggle to give, to love
the most difficult to give and love
pressed upon me
the abyss
of unsatiable hearts
disordered minds
restless spirits

A shepherd of cats
in a monsoon of catnip
A Shepherd of manic sheep
baying threats against the wolves

Weariness, only
my constant companion
this day from the start

A rest of body and mind,
even a Fool surrenders.