Classic Poem

" Look! "
He held up his right fist
locked around a steel ball

A stroke?
Yet smiled and looked detached
Never thought he had it in him
Then as he turned, a gloating
held the face,
and in the eyes
a glimmer as if looking inward
at distinction . . . and held on.

" I was in the hospital
I didn't want you to know. "

Let all see.
Considerate.
Pity standing by

" They cut me open from this ear "

Compassion wrestling with a capon

" down along the jugular to scrape
the carotids. "
Ah, greatness!

Schneider, you who have never uttered
one memorable word,
as scoff is my witness,
le coeur oblige
that I bestow on you
cockleburr for your obscurity,
one for each year,
and the Order of Iron for your suffering