Selah
by Pietro Aman

I walked without my Lord upon some roads 
and, coming into the cities of wild men, 


fell into absence further than walking roads, 
dishonoured and narrow, alone with my youth.


Where I fell I was harmed by the engine’s sound;
beaten in the streets, I could hear only this:


great engines in the harbour, 
                        engines in the streets.


Damaged and weary, walking without my Lord 
through avenues dishonoured, absent moreso 


by the arrogance of youth walking upon crushed 
buildings of men, streets of such violence,


I came about the city square, proclaiming:
I hate the Lord who hath done this to me.


Beaten in the street and absent of honour, 
no man could hear upon the engine’s sound.


And I took my place among them, and apart.


And there was no shelter,
                my self long opposed to.


I slept without my Lord in the sea’s harbour;
where I slept I was harmed by the breaker’s sound.


I was no longer young and I knew nothing,
so I set upon the roads dishonoured, walking afraid.