burning pride

so nameless powers of deepest darkest fear
scudding onwards with much call and clatter
on every normal heart beat and batter
in measures of considerable care
into frays rush where angels would not dare
the powers that challenge us surely shatter
into small forces that cannot matter
and so we pause to smile and take the air
what one knows others will not yet have seen
so teaching them becomes the standard charge
and ignorance and dullness we revile
outside we smile at the yet-living green
know that our understanding must enlarge
and march into the future single file