The Paragon of Animals

What is it to be human?

What is staying alive? To possess   

A great hall inside of a cell.

What is it to know? The same root

Underneath the branches.

What is it to believe? Being a carer   

Until relief takes over.

And to forgive? On fours through thorns

To keep company to an old enemy.

What is it to sing? To receive breath

From the genius of creation.

What's work but humming a song

From wood and wheat.

What are state affairs? A craft

That's still only crawling?

And armaments? Thrust a knife

In a baby's fist.

Being a nation? What can it be? A gift

In the swell of the heart.

And to love a country? Keeping house

In a cloud of witnesses.

What's the world to the all powerful?

A circle spinning.

And to the children of the earth?

A cradle rocking.

Waldo Williams.