RAINBOW

There is no rainbow

Without rain

And yes, there is no rainbow without sun-

Shine, shining through the rain.

Beyond prison of jaundiced prejudice,

Sky's oval prism splits, separates, radiates,

Exposing, by refraction, beauty, diversity,

Cosmopolitan colours of the cosmos,

Illusion of the unity of light,

The unity of life.

There is no rainbow

Without light

And yes, there is no rainbow in the dark

Night of a nation's soul

Struggling through thunderclaps

Of insomniac, dreamless sleep.

Sky, promise me this relentless deluge

Of disappointment and discontentment,

Like vapour of a mirage,

Eventually, will pass:

These arrows of showers, showers of arrows,

That pierce and penetrate

A subdued people's shield of will at will.

Rainbow arched as if by water-weight

Of Heaven's heavy burdens:

Beaten brows, bowed backs of men bend

Under vertical weight of heavy fists,

Long lines and waiting lists,

Screwfaced scowls await clouded justice.

Sky, promise me this vertical oppression

Of searing sun, eventually, will pass:

These tainted smiles of painted lips,

Tainted lips of painted smiles,

That mock and scoff with churlish glee

The aspirations of simple, honest men.

There is no rainbow

Without rain,

No relief without pain, pain without relief,

And yes, there is no rainbow without sun-

Shine, shining through the rain...

©2012 by G. Newton V. Chance