A Fond Farewell

The hills are brown’d; the sheep have fled

Smoke blocks the sun; the sky turns grey

At height of day, words left unsaid

Tomes left unwritten, left unread

Won’t you come mourn, Chol¹, bird of fire

Thee, I invoke - Come, bless this pyre

With blazing² coal infuse my lyre

This swain uncouth³, please now inspire

Once on the hill Acropolis⁴,

The thistle⁵ bloomed and spread its wings-

It rose on high, reached⁶ for the sun

Spread to ev'ry metropolis

The burning bush shared light with all

Gave truth and warmth, redemption’s call

It burned with flame but was consumed⁷:

To earth returned, to dust recalled⁸

Remember when its voice boomed ‘round

With strength and pow’r, spoke words profound

It grew in fame, t’was world renowned

Until it reached its upper bound

Look on its works, ye mighty men⁹ -

Sinners, saints, citizens, and kings -

My soul with laden heart will grieve

Come gather round and join with me

Release its ashes to the Styx¹⁰

And follow them around the bend

Streams converge to waters new

Ayun, Hasbani, and the Dan¹¹

'Till on the shores of Jordan¹² spy

Its seeds disperse¹³ and find new ground

To find new root and touch the sky

To blaze with fire once again

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chol_%28bible%29
2. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah+6%3A7&version=NET
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycidas#The_Uncouth_Swain
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Areopagus
5. http://horoscopes.lovetoknow.com/Zodiac_Sign_Flowers
6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icarus#Interpretation
7. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=exodus+3%3A2&version=NET
8. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ecclesiastes+12%3A7&version=NET
9. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/learning/guide/238972#poem
10.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Styx
11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_River#Tributaries
12.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_River#Symbolic_importance
13. http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/cirvul/all.html#FIRE%20ECOLOGY