To Dante Alighieri
TO DANTE ALIGHIERI
As a student I found passion
Not in jocks, which was the fashion—
but in Dante and his time
his haunting tale in perfect rhyme
what a mind--- what a brain
modern guys just complain
Dante my first major crush
You set the bar to make me trust
That truth and beauty do exist
Bequeathed my heart's poor pen persist
Betrothed as a child Florentian's law
You loved a woman that you saw
By chance in public on the street
You were lightning on your feet
Wonder of a man you were--
All your life with thoughts of her
mad love for Bea-- romance afar
This love bizarre survived a war
Your published work sings just of her
Your wedded life seems like a blur--
Maintained your children's adoration
through long years of separation
Oh, most daunting was your child
Adoring you through days most wild
And when you lost your wealth and fame
She took nun vow's and donned Bea's name
And through amazing life and verse
You’ve taught me nothing can be worse
Than losing dignity and heart---
All valiant souls survive fresh starts.
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