quiet, lad
beware
there walks a cursed one
see how he trudges along
under the weight of his burden
he has been stricken, aye
he has trampled sacred ground
he has trespassed the inner sanctity
and blasphemed the hollowed icon
of the clan
he has betrayed his heritage
disgraced his father
renouncing his loyalties
bringing shame upon his family
and ridicule and disgust
upon himself
forever
he is condemned
to make penance
the remainder of his days
look away quickly, lad
mind you
never meet the eyes
of a man stricken
with campbell’s curse
feb 6, ‘87
© 1987
