Proclamation
Whereas the world is a house on fire;
Whereas the nations are filled with shouting;
Whereas hope seems small, sometimes
a single bird on a wire
left by migration behind.
Whereas kindness is seldom in the news
and peace and abstraction
while war is real;
Whereas words are all I have;
Whereas my life is short;
Whereas I am afraid;
Whereas I am free –despite all
fire and anger and fear;
Be it therefore resolved a song
shall be my calling — a song
not yet nade
not yet made shall be vocation
and peaceful words the work
of my remaining days.
Kim Stafford