The strident high
civic trumpeting
of misrule. It is
what we stand for.
Wild insolence,
aggregates without
distinction. Courage
of common men:
spent in the ruck
their remnant witness
after centuries
is granted them
like a pardon.
And other fealties
other fortitudes
broken as named—
Respublica
brokenly recalled,
its archaic laws
and hymnody;
and destroyed hope
that so many times
is brought with triumph
back from the dead.
