for james keane*

from its citadel of power and glory
the flag now droops in despair and dread
for it is spattered with blood
our leader is dead

the world looks with grief and dismay
shocked and stunned we cannot hide
renown and grace is dead
our leader has died

1964

*who wouldn’t let me off the hook
until I turned something in
and gave me the line from Macbeth