After Words
When you dismantle, by critique,
Another person's icon,
Friendship may break, if it was weak:
Not carrots over daikon,
A simple preference of one's taste
A matter so severe,
Which makes investment bankrout waste
If friendship had been dear.
Such is the common stews of man
(Before earth stops the ears)
Or Christian or Muhammadan—
All speak but no one hears.
Perhaps a friendship has been blown
Due my intemperate tongue,
As words prevail—so I was shown
In youth that am not young.
All things must pass; if friendship is
Premature in its passing,
’Tis not great like a Judas kiss
Though stripes we keep amassing.