July the Fourth, 1873
Rimbaud recalls his older man to crawl
To Arthur’s bed in Camden and return
To more abuse and weak man’s pain, but Paul
Refuses. He has had enough to burn
His heart forever and to brand it with
Hard scars to last for an eternity
And so he chooses, in the end, the myth
That Christ and Pope (two men) can make Paul free.
He mumbles up some words and fumbles up
A candle flame for all that now is gone.
A tasteless wafer and a shuffling cup
Are what he thinks will bring a fragrant dawn.
..But Paul remains just Paul. The chalice spills
….Salvation. Paul recalls young Arthur’s thrills.