Prelude To Triumph

This poem was written in1967 while I was at the V.A. Hospital in
Brecksville, Ohio and suffering from a psychosis.

Sometime ago, I was out on a walk on a very beautiful, very religious night.
It was Christmas time. And on this night, it seemed as though the universe,
nature, and I were together -- were one. And on this Christmastime night, it
seemed as though they: the universe, nature, were very eagerly awaiting a
present, a gorgeous gift -- from me. On this night I realized that the
universe wanted, really did want, very much, for me to be happy -- very
happy.

Prelude To Triumph

Crystal trees of frozen rain glitter in the moonlight. The night is
clear and bright, still, hushed, breathless: as if expecting a miracle or a
gorgeous present.

And the miracle it was awaiting appears. One man steps out into the
night, and -- at the end of a long road travelled backwards and forwards,
over long detours, through jungles of made circumstance and dips of obscenity
but always carrying the torch of godliness in his spirit -- inclines his chin
to the universe and starts climbing, feeling the luxurious pull of his legs
in the cold night air, sweet in his lungs, climbing a high mountain toward
the twin pinnacles of success and love, stretching the thighs of Human
Beauty.

The crystal trees of frozen rain glitter in the moonlight. And the
stars are joyous scintillant tears suspended as glittering jewels in the vast
sympatico of the night ...

P.S. This is the earliest and oldest poem of mine that I still have.