POET’S PLEDGE
R.M. Challa
Come, let us seek the light, the truer light
Of Poesy, the inner light of life–
Quelling the darkness of ungodly night,
Setting aside all struggle, stress and strife,
Conquering hate through love, declaring war
On war, creating grace from ugliness.
We do not wrong but right; we do not mar
But make; we poets do not curse but bless;
For we are building ever-free empires
Of wisdom, where revenge is folly, where
Forgiveness is law, where deceased desires
Are born delights, and where our only care
Is the discovery of our destiny
In our awareness of divinity.