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 again1. 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
