I have heard the words
"Never in all my years"
But what I had seen
was nothing to what I would hear
and what I could feel
His reputation went in front of him
carrying a red flag

I couldn't be certain of his bowed head
or even what he had meant it to be

But at first glance he had said
it's not easy fighting the twentieth century

I wanted to wash more than anything

You fool yourselves you are writers
You fool yourselves you are tellers of tales

I take apart what you put together

I stood somewhere between
the passing of the deed
and his dreadful motion.

He stood as only a dead man could