Writing is an honor a pledge to live

a day -- past, present, or future -- of time

living is something a bit different

without a participle it does thrive

a verb in the full measure of being

a priori or was destined to be

in a manner of speaking so falsely

yet without it what is this mystery?

To rhetoric or to prophesy yields

as into its music it weaves its keys

which are to be touched in their loveliness

no single ingredient is perceived

alone but its details such are these:

harmony and mercy on their bent knees