(Sometimes poets must speak out of time and so appear foolish. Yet still they must cast their seed to future winds and pray that it might lodge in fertile minds.)

Raise your treasures up high for close at your feet
Is one who'll snatch quickly that not in Heaven's keep.
For high in the Heavens he can no longer fly,
Earthbound alone he must live - and die.
And with pride and beauty he'll strut and he'll stand,
But quickly will he empty the lowered hand.

And loud of voice and loud of feather
He paces the ground and curses his tether.
Cries strident and resounding envelop the hills,
And echo of distress, and of pity, and of ills.
But heed not for his voice does with mischief belie
An arrogance of stance and a coldness of eye,
And you will find him with feathers still shiny and sleek,
Still fast on his feet and quick with his beak.

So as you journey and as you search
Beware the peacock, bejeweled upon his perch.
And when you find that which you seek,
Raise it safely on high in Heaven's keep.

D.J. Ludlow Copyright 2003