Augustine fearing that his
powers of endurance may break
pled set me on fire with your love
I tasted you
and now I hunger and thirst for you
Bonaparte trusting himself
invented a man without remorse
and believing in posthumous existence
created his legend bit by bit
exile and island rain broke him
Aurelius in dark times
between changes imposed and endured
held to the divine spirit determined
to remain himself whatever the world may do
an emerald preserving its color