Fall Back to the Foxholes of Nothingness

Though days of persecution be endless,

Though nature denude you, clown, of your art–

Fall back to the foxholes of nothingness.

 

The power that restrains Mind is mindless,

Fool, in your upside-down hanging take heart–

Though days of persecution be endless.

 

Though the river-hewn canyon be cleftless,

At the coming of erosion’s upstart–

Fall back to the foxholes of nothingness.

 

Limp flags from a dead tree hang motionless,

Awaiting the day far-off winds depart–

These days of persecution seem endless.

 

Mind is the law that rejects mindlessness.

Mind’s sole doctrine is to Mind’s law impart–

Fall back to the foxholes of nothingness.

 

Through a chink in the chainmail headdress,

The Mindless One pours; how things fall apart!

Though days of persecution be endless,

Fall back to the foxholes of nothingness.

James Bradley is an artist and writer living in Prescott, Arizona. His paintings have been exhibited at the Berkeley Art Museum, Verum Ultimum Gallery, P.Bibeau and elsewhere. He received an MFA in painting from the California College of the Arts in 2009.