THE BAVARIAN MASON



It has been repeatedly suggested that inclusions be made

of what might be called less 'ambitious' verse.
 
With the second volume of POeTRY, therefore, a new section

is added which will publish shorter, 

or otherwise less narrative verse.
 
Submissions are solicited.
 
Since the initial entries will be those of the editor,

whose genealogical roots are but a century 

removed from Bavaria,
 
and whose name in German means 'bricklayer' or 'mason,'

and in the spirit of 'building' that this journal

has sought to propagate, the section will be entitled 

'The Bavarian Mason.' 











The Destiny of Man


by Ronald Gordon Ziegler
c 1966, 1985, 1998



If it be
the destiny 
of mortal man to leave
footprints on the sands of time,
then surely we should grieve
to see the restless shiftiness
of the yellow sand,
and the ravages of wind and sea
on the destiny of man.







ON THE PASSING OF THE MANTIS

by Ronald Gordon Ziegler
c 1996


She came late one summer
and we fed her crawly things
which she waited for in ambush 
as they'd walk about and sing.
She would hang there expectantly
with her hands folded in prayer,
thanking God for the feast
she knew would soon be there.
She'd wet her arms and wash her eyes,
so she could the better see
each movement that would pass her
as she waited patiently.
She waited with us through autumn
as the leaves turned gold and red,
and every time we'd look in at her,
she would cock her alien head
as if to say "May I help you?
What is it you think you see?
I am but a passenger
on the train to eternity."
One day when the leaves had gone
and dropped to mother earth,
and barren sticks were all was left
of the green of springtime's birth,
she made a pouch and fastened it
securely that was filled
with her legacy to tomorrow.
And when it was lovingly sealed
safe from winter's raging blast 
wrapped up warmly so to keep,
she began to quiver on her legs
and at last lay down to sleep.
Now, I have seen tomorrow
and I have seen yesterday,
and I have seen November
and I have seen May,
and I know there is hereafter
and that rebirth is assured,
and that we are God's hand on earth 
in our works and in our words, 
and that we live on in what we create,
for soon the Spring will return,
and a thousand hands will fold to God
of her work on her sojourn.




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