A Poem For Shelter

Who was so rich

He owned diamonds and snowflakes and fire,

The leaf and the forest,

Herring and whale and horizon --

Who had the key to the chamber beyond the stars

And the key of the grave --

Who was sower and seed and bread

Came on a black night

To a poor hovel with a star peeking through rafters

And slept among beasts

And put a sweet cold look on kings and shepherds.

But the children of time, their rooftrees should be strong.