Ceres (for Young Men Tempted to Serve)

                       When Pluto drags her darling down below

she seems quite cool about it--more than I

am now: she says goodbye and lets her go

(later flinging curses mothers know,

dirty words that make the flowers die

when darkness lures their children down below).

I don’t even whisper words that show

I understand the choices.  That is why

I cannot say goodbye and let you go:

my voice would be the start of making so.

I will keep my mouth shut and defy

abracadabras beckoning you to go

and you will listen, boys, to my dumb show

as I wave wildly at the sun and sky

and make you doubt your own desire to go.

I chanted words that gave you power to grow

when you were born.  I will not glorify

your leaving, now, my boys, to serve below.

I will not say goodbye.  And you won’t go.