You've braved vacancy
since birth and
begged the conventions
to burn,
all the while rising
higher than anyone
could have guessed.
You accost the functional,
not yielding to the rest but
instead,
a consistent insist of
a little more zest.
You bear the symbols of war
on both of your palms, and
in some such way you
stand
still and still strong.
It is not you who is off,
for you're the steel cage to the nest.
It is not you we have lost,
but I'm afraid it is us.

e.campagna