What the madman said was true:
        It has always been so.
        But no evil alchemy of words
        could transmute him who had been a friend
        into a sudden monster; he is the same
        that everyone has known from genisus;
        but maddened in his iron mask
        and despairing to leave the lie,
        he called from his cavern.  And was not heard.
        All other desires were buried years ago
        with the advent of the dream-like siblings.
        All the madman wanted was a moment
        of truth in which to proclaim
        his own dominion of dignity
        over his prehistoric malady.

                But in all his hegira home
                from coldness into warmth
                there was still a chill
                over the sorrowing sun.

       March 2, 1971