<p>Halt this disgrace of disgraces</p>.<p>Your prisons</p>.<p>cannot hold</p>.<p>Gold grace of our truth</p>.<p>Handcuffs are for hands</p>.<p>You are up against rivers </p>.<p>Under the owl’s wing </p>.<p>Bone branch in white</p>.<p>As secret as our<br />roiling tide</p>.<p>Coming for rancid men</p>.<p>How many horrors must we bear? </p>.<p>More than we can count; less than you may forget</p>.<p>I made your shield</p>.<p>From the pieces of my back</p>.<p>Halt this disgrace of disgraces </p>.<p>Against this bale of darkness, rest now</p>.<p>Before battle for paper and place</p>.<p>Our trenches will one day be gardens</p>.<p>Wisterias fed on blood</p>.<p>Rest now, my friend, young soldier</p>.<p>Your rage is a flower</p>.<p>I hold in my hand </p>.<p>As red rose to rifle.</p>.<p>(The poet is the author of the bestselling 'Last Song of Dusk', among others. His new memoir 'Loss' will be released later this year.)</p>.<p><em><span class="italic">Each month, Poet’s Corner will choose one poem to highlight. Write to us at sundayherald@deccanherald.co.in</span></em></p>
<p>Halt this disgrace of disgraces</p>.<p>Your prisons</p>.<p>cannot hold</p>.<p>Gold grace of our truth</p>.<p>Handcuffs are for hands</p>.<p>You are up against rivers </p>.<p>Under the owl’s wing </p>.<p>Bone branch in white</p>.<p>As secret as our<br />roiling tide</p>.<p>Coming for rancid men</p>.<p>How many horrors must we bear? </p>.<p>More than we can count; less than you may forget</p>.<p>I made your shield</p>.<p>From the pieces of my back</p>.<p>Halt this disgrace of disgraces </p>.<p>Against this bale of darkness, rest now</p>.<p>Before battle for paper and place</p>.<p>Our trenches will one day be gardens</p>.<p>Wisterias fed on blood</p>.<p>Rest now, my friend, young soldier</p>.<p>Your rage is a flower</p>.<p>I hold in my hand </p>.<p>As red rose to rifle.</p>.<p>(The poet is the author of the bestselling 'Last Song of Dusk', among others. His new memoir 'Loss' will be released later this year.)</p>.<p><em><span class="italic">Each month, Poet’s Corner will choose one poem to highlight. Write to us at sundayherald@deccanherald.co.in</span></em></p>