The Tower Rebuilt

I shall resolve to leave this Place now... And steadfastly search out, Nestling between ridge and bluff Amidst the folds of a foreign Land, Several acres of unkempt ground Fallow and rough; Upon which stands... Crumbled stone walls With an exposed slate roof in Some state of disrepair, And a rounded brough Complete with smooth, Well trodden steps Twisting around a narrow stair. An Inglenook, therein, Will I construct, With deep reveals to cheer me In my idling days, And wide spanning arch To sit before and stay the onset Of this old age... And all its creeping ills; While in all the subtle crafts In which I was taught to be so ably Skilled: Rebuild this castle Inside the wistful echos Of these deeply-spilling And far resounding hills. Then, with mind well set, complete with muscles willing Sinew And perspirations honest sweat, I shall toil upon this task; For a little more precious time, Coupled with fortitude and Diligence, In truth, is all one my humbly ask. And by my will... And by my command - Raise up these fallen blocks Once more Upon this goodly land. For could it happen that Every night, Before I gladly retire, I glimpse a trace of those whose Face Haunt the hot flames of my steady Fire? Disregarding manifested nightly Shadows, That, in their lonely spectral Travels, Creep across old squeaking boards... Lain at right angles Over the creaking joists Hidden under ingrained, Dusty, oaken floors. And placing down my thick and Heavy, Red leather-bound book I reach across for thread, Sharp needle and hook; When picking up the threadbare Blue-velvet rags... I stitch in the bright silvery stars We once eagerly reached for, But did not quite grasp, In our younger days as lustier Lads; Perhaps pausing in mid-motion, With a rueful look, To pensively consider of that Weary road One lone stray drummer, Still steadily drumming - Steadfastly took. Consider! Accession is but a Trifle - The anointed destiny of all Royal Kings... And all earthly prizes pale asides Whatever riches accumulated Wisdom gradually brings: Born of labor, Re-doubled effort, Born of non-compromise... And fated, Gently resigned, nodding sighs. Rising now on upright stiffening Bones... Listening to the dark hours Belated howls Rise over the laments Of the Lime-torched rafters Swelling moans; And, plodding slowly upwards Of my bell-less tower - Seek out welcome sleep Within my shaking, wind swept Bower! Slung low under the eastern Point Of a sharp crested Moon... The radiant Dog-Star Floods its rainbow colours through Narrowed slits Of the high turreted room. Port-side lies my yawing bed Rigged-out in white linen sheets; Amidships my mattress spread - Two firm pillows serve as cabin To plunge about my weary head! Storm rages down... And storm blows below - Redoubtable little boat Swung back and fro! Tossed and tipped from trough To pitch: Resolute timbers - Lashed afloat This angry ditch! Caught in the deep channel Of my chaotic bind... To seek safe haven I do Endeavour to find: A safe harbour on some newly Formed virgin shore; Along whose gentle currents My sturdy tiller swings... And now steers for - Upon the white spumes Of a steady bore. Now... Far, far, far above, Past where Andromeda yields, And Hercules, who upon the head Of Draco kneels; And far, far, far beyond Interstellar dust - Adorned the blazing Constellations Throng... I walk between the milky-ways Of sunlit nights and shinning Eternal days... Which relentlessly spiral Aboard boundless rays. For, it seems, that a man can voyage over the unfathomable Bars To chase his elusive dreams Among the crowded stars; Where, cutting the black voids With heavens lights: Hissing crystal tails of vaporous Comets - Condense within the blazing trails Of burning meteorites! Indeed! Men may sail on celestial Seas - As they traverse the showering Heights: Exploding forth in grandest Majesties In golden realms of the Gods Hurled smites! Seek their solace upon Eternities Unending oceans - Their fortunes blown by solar winds: Mortal souls searching in perpetuity Until the dawning revelry then Rescinds. Answering the call to old Gabriels Horn, As dappling sunlight creeps across My undaunted little tower, I open my eyes to the new born Morn - When summoned to the beckoning Hour. Descending from my fortified Might, Reinforced with new found zeal, I reflect upon this newly provoked Insight - As the happy chapel bell begins To joyously peel! So awaken, Herald! And usher in ennobled thoughts, For enlightenment sought, Inside where aspirations deem To dwell. Just as the planted seeds, Of much great nourished deeds, Do so germinate - all naysayers to Dispel; As all lofty creeds, Must at some point, Readily concede, in time, To the bleak tolling Of the cruel fates final knell! Therefore, put yourself to the Immediate task, Against all obstacles however Mean or extreme, Whilst upon the faithful handle Firmly grasp Of worn tools whose blades are Worthy and keen. When bending your strong back To take the strain, Denying any quarter or appeals To moderate refrain, Over adversity you justifiably Deign: Your laudable goals, Thus, to surely attain. Hear me then! Build tall your Broughs, Withstanding fancies flight, Disregarding all those Who may well try: Seek to disparage, ridicule and Slight. Suffer not scoffers, knaves And braying fools But raise up your proud Monuments Wherever you should most joyfully Choose! For in among the ruins where Failure steals: So prevails triumph - To forever chase his grim presence From your low-rubbled fields! My gratitude to my good friend Mr George Dee Vuy for inspiring me to conceive these last three verses with the beautiful word..."Ennobled"!! Many thanks, George!