Naked in the Ditches
phlegmatic on my bier
no regrets—my body bears
truth stem to stern
beginning with the hips
who am of common stock
looking to the sea
face ground—nothing now
conjured from dust
suffering—hung by the heels
sought occasion
as will was never conquered
to see the host broken
a swinging scythe—the dance
this most pleasant to me
so make moan of the old days
say why should love live
Copyright Credit: Richard Owens, “Naked in the Ditches” from Ballads. Copyright © 2012 by Richard Owens. Reprinted by permission of Habenicht Press.
Source: Ballads (Habenicht Press, 2012)