If I Could Speak

If I Could Speak

If I could speak
the thin clear vein of thought
that is all entwined in webbing
left from long lack of honesty
I would speak NOW
BEFORE the sun goes down.

If I could cry
the lakes of tears
to feed the thirsty nations
WARRING when the world is ripe for WORKING
I could cry NOW
BEFORE the sun goes down.

If I could grow
a thousand arms
to wind beneath the earth
and find a thousand arms to HOLD IN DIGNITY
I would grow now
BEFORE the sun goes down.

If I could show
the clustered sprouts,
(dark secrets of the undergrowth)
to panic blinded virile men
I would show now
BEFORE the sun goes down.

If every morning
I could bring new dawn
to bleeding heroes
who hold the sun up in the sky
I would bring NOW,
BEFORE the sun goes down.

If I could climb
a cliff and echo love
inside the chasm where
bullets echo back at me
I would climb NOW
BEFORE the sun goes down.

If I could know
of courage,
(the child born from hearing
one’s OWN SOUND AND KNOWING IT IS TRUE)
I WOULD COURAGE NOW
BEFORE THE SUN GOES DOWN.