It's academic, as they say, These evocations lingering, As I and I remold the clay, A bold offensive, stolen ring Of Adam, Eve and human vice, Exposed in rhythm on the grass. Cascading willows, wind and spice, The reaper makes his steady pass. Cassandra sang, Ophelia too-- Good words are always hard to find, Yet somewhere must remain a clue, A still, small voice that says be kind. Our final words go etched in stone, And in the end we sing alone.