Nothing is ever certain, nothing is ever safe, br To-day is overturning yesterday's settled good. br Everything dying keeps a hungry grip on life. br Nothing is ever born without screaming and blood. br Understand the weapon, understand the wound: br What shapeless past was hammered to action by his deeds, br Only in constant action was his constant certainty found. br He will throw a longer shadow as time recedes. br br br br Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.