the bird and LOUIS

his right eye 
drooped

like a soggy rag

before he would  
explode.

-a sign 


venom frothed,
the corners of his lips,
curved into a snarl.
snake or 
rabid wolf

-hard to tell the difference


"pick up the beam,"
the bird demanded.
Louis did so.
for thirty. seven. 
minutes.

-resilient


sticks, spit, rocks, 
brass buckles, 
starvation, 
sharks, brutal beatings

-get back up


pain, suffering, loss,
discouraged, broken,
split in half.
He kept His promise.
rise again. 

-unbroken



dedicated to LZ, 1917-2014