We being so hidden from those who br Have quietly borne and fed us, br How can we answer civilly br Their innocent invitations? br br How can we say "we see you br As but-for-God's-grace-ourselves, as br Our caricatures (we yours), with br Time's telescope between us"? br br How can we say "you presumed on br The accident of kinship, br Assumed our friendship coatlike, br Not as a badge one fights for"? br br How say "and you remembered br The sins of our outlived selves and br Your own forgiveness, buried br The hatchet to slow music; br br Shared money but not your secrets; br Will leave as your final legacy br A box double-locked by the spider br Packed with your unsolved problems"? br br How say all this without capitals, br Italics, anger or pathos, br To those who have seen from the womb come br Enemies? How not say it? br br br Submitted by Stephen Fryerbr br Arthur Seymour John Tessimondbr br