Haniel Long

From “On the Road”

They say that dead men tell no tales!

Except of barges with red sails

And sailors mad for nightingales;

Except of jongleurs stretched at ease

Beside old highways through the trees;

Except of dying moons that break

The hearts of lads who lie awake;

Except of fortresses in shade,

And heroes crumbled and betrayed.

But dead men tell no tales, they say!

Except old tales that burn away

The stifling tapestries of day:

Old tales of life, of love and hate,

Of time and space, and will, and fate.