Another Day, Another Dolor

For the Reverend Daniel Berrigan, S. J.

The purpose of life is to be purposeful;
And each separate purpose is judged daily by the body;

When the belly hurts, you must be doctor to yourself;
When the head hurts, you must think further

Thereon, for the soul points to its chief instrument
And like Zeus from your brow a work is due.

When the whole body hurts, in pain, it means
Death is not necessarily the end of the soul

The man, the hero I say, steps to the plate
And look at this, he says, a principle to die on.