The Sum of Man,” found in one of his earliest diaries and written in his teens, marks the beginning of Ron’s legendary career as a writer, and is one of the earliest examples of his insightful free verse. —http://www.joyofcreating.org/lrh/index.htm
THE SUM OF MAN
PASSION
Swirling ivory thoughts
Swirling
In red-flecked blackness.
PASSIONAMBITION
Fire burning — searing
Torturing
My tied hands.THE SUM OF MAN
THE SUM OF MAN
THE SUM OF MANCONCEIT
Eyes that see nothing but mirrors
Ears which hear nothing but praise
Present man with a dwarf.
CONCEIT
Houses perched on stenching
Quicksand.THE SUM OF MAN
THE SUM OF MAN
THE SUM OF MAN RepeatCONSCIENCE
Leaden hue of horizons
Racking sobs
Of a heart which cannot cry.
CONSCIENCEFEAR
Black soul
Naked to a shrieking wind
Black soul
Naked to a shrieking wind.THE SUM OF MAN
THE SUM OF MAN
THE SUM OF MAN RepeatHYPOCRISY
Sleek
Dripping with
An inner oil which rots.
HYPOCRISYTEMPER
Cramming pity
Of a blurred mind.
TEMPER TEMPERTHE SUM OF MAN
THE SUM OF MAN
THE SUM OF MAN RepeatCUPIDITY
Cunning mind
Which unnerves the eye
Unclean lancet
Unnerving the eye.
CUPIDITY CUPIDITYJEALOUSY
Swaying towers
Prey to a zephyr.
JEALOUSYHATE
Unspoken words
Carrion
To nauseate
And snarl the guts.THE SUM OF MAN
THE SUM OF MAN
THE SUM OF MAN Repeat
Poem: The Sum of Man (1924)
Retrieved from: joyofcreating.org
