To my detractors, instituted mountains that have taken upon themselves to become the borders of deepened valleys of my life and career: I saw you coming long ago. And developed a response to your unbidden lies and character assasinations in my poem ‘Calabash of Colors.’ This was written in 1995 in which the superiority of my sense of duty to humanity always remaining above the standards and selfishness of carnal men was declared and depicted. I share it now with the world as solemn vow that I will prevail while my mountains will be laid low and my valleys filled over.
I’ll the colours swirl and whirl Over me
Bestir my visions fly to
Far-flung horizons. Hear! I stand accused of
Foolish blunder In choosing to plumb this path
Of fallow surrender.
But they are as Night Unseeing Their craven cries Unbidden.
For I see
These fibers of my blunt Exertions flourish Like leaves
on the
Grape-vine garnished With fruits to
fill a
Thousand gourds
And yield a brew to
Please the gods And I should drink
My fill And my feeble fears Still.
For
Night’s acquiescence leaves only
Shadows bland Where Light draws life from
Nature’s colours grand
So let the colours Flow through me Break my bonds And set me free
And cornucopia-like I’ll Eternally, sensuously spill Enough of these fruits
Of Art’s undaunting labour
To yet fill many a
Calabash of colours.
Extracted from the collection: “Calabash Colors,” by Philip Desaint (Pseudonym)