I saw them on the sidewalk, man and wife and little girl, br and, like the rightful man I am, I smiled br at the little girl's sweet innocence, br and glanced at the man; br br he wore a workman's cap, his body had the look br of muscle that has learned br the lean, hard lesson of the bone; br he saw me there, br a young old man, standing by the library door, br and something in my gaze gained his respect; br he nodded once, as to an equal; br I nodded back, the single nod that honors: br I saw that those he walked with br had the gift of all he had; br and, suddenly, I knew br his wife's fear for his fragile, sweet, tough frame, br and her treasure, in the rightness of his way. br br I saw in him, born of his love for them, br the fire inside, eternal: br the will indomitable, that would not swerve br from its sweet choice of sheltering, br though nightmare come; br that, in the end, would interpose itself, as shield br against that cold, relentless wind br that blows flesh, hope, the very bone away. br br Sweet chariot of flame, br this golden passion of the clay: br My child, I give me: I am yours forever; br My Darling! though the world should pass away.