10/17/2003

It was
a shrewd decision
hanging up his guns
when he did.
Still within reach
should he need them
the standing invitation
to see if
you could kill him
had been withdrawn.
Having learned
the letter of the law
is a poor substitute
for justice
he neither preached
tolerance
nor stood in the way
of any resolution
to differences
that satisfied all parties.
When he married Sophie
no one who knew
the bride and groom
was surprised
when the minister
blessed them
for knowing
what to share
and what to hide.