Title: Riddle II
Fandom: Original, Inspector Lewis
Rating: G
Length: 120
Content notes: N/A
Author notes: Inspired in part by real events, and influenced by the Oxford and the events of Inspector Lewis, particularly the viewpoint of James Hathaway.
Image is by Vinesh Rajpaul, from Inside Oxford.
Summary: Who am I, one, to speak of love or grief

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Who am I to hope, or dare or pray
And for what, how, when or where that dream?
Who am I to speak, what might I say,
A solitaire, that would not be a fleam
An edge to cut, not mend, at end of day?
No thread I know will hold fast 'gainst the stream.
Yet who am I to fail of hope, despair
Of happy outcome, health or glad surcease?
Who to silent stand, deny words the air
That breath might make new songs, let art increase
Connecting hearts, hands, minds and spirits rare
In discourse with each other, disparate peace?
    Who am I, one, to speak of love or grief
    When two are sundered, long entwined or brief.