Inside this Temple

My inspiration for this poem is Stephen Crane’s poetry–specifically his 1895 book “The Black Riders And Other Lines,” consisting of his early poems, which he called his ”little lines.”

Some may wonder if this is poetry, but it’s how I feel at this time as I look out my window on to the world this week.

….inside this temple there’s a holy soul,   
a righteous one
    dying to be free
    to never see
black/steel/metal/bars
bloody/street/maniac/bent
bruised/sensitive/mental/burial 
    injustice, pain and suffering–
this is worth leaving.
This is weird reasoning.
     So i must stay
     inside this temple
     Holy, righteous,
     dying to be free.

……….vance french

Stephen Crane was known for his ability to say so much in few words. He often described a world of darkness, where a man hugs his heart to himself, and the universe in return dismisses it and man’s simple request for recognition. He was befriended or admired by many writers. He covered two wars during his lifetime, working intermittently as a journalist, and wrote “The Red Badge of Courage,” which spoke of humility.

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Vance French has lived in Lyons for 17 years and has become a part of the music-loving community, performing songs and playing his ukulele or the piano at churches and the senior center. He has written poems for many years and has participated in various poetry events in town.