Who ordained
everything beautiful be gold
or gilt to the touch;
or sharp
the shadow of a spear,
broad the skirt of a shield?
In youth
the muscles’ hard ripples
copper over the bones.
Do not mistake
the bees that come
and go
in weak sunlight—
each one a small loyalty
to what lies in the hive.
[LAG-other-response url=”https://www.vianegativa.us/2015/08/youth-revisited/” title=”Via Negativa: Youth revisited”]