Rebels: A Poem

Victor Agius: "Amarantine" (2009)

Rebels

We were rebels once,

fists raised to heaven

feet trampling the earth

hearts like forest fires,

builders of a brave new world.

Until the world recast us in its image,

kissed us with its scented breath

and when its work was done

we, newly conflicted,

fell silent one by one.

We were prophets once,

preachers of a living God;

Long-bearded mystics,

trembling at ecstatic visions;

the anointed few.

Until, with voice grown hoarse,

we became purveyors

of facile absolutes

and traded our sheepskins

for designer suits.

We were poets once,

bards of beauty

lips cleansed by flaming coals;

Painters with our brushes dipped

in soil and sea and stars.

Until our sight grew dim

and we were lost for words;

our palettes ran dry, 

the willows took our lyres,

And no one heard us cry.

I avoid your eyes

burning with reproach,

lest embers long since cooled

rekindle once-familiar flames.

Don’t look at me,

for we were lovers once

but can no longer be.