Between John Holmes and the events of his luck and fate:

That biographically accident and love come not late,

Nor too early, but right, as of this year of signature

It has been: that he for his part prosper and endure:

That he, known citizen who can write forth his name,

Shall close joy, rage, and memory into such a frame

Of words to be called a poem, that it can be hung

High, the way of its saying heard, the rhythm sung:

That, living, he shall pay all costs of this with air

Breathed in, blood used and used, and his graying hair.

Of the second part, the party hereinafter called fate

Shall challenge nothing: nothing repent, defer, abate:

Shall not sweeten the bitter: not mistake one letter

Of law written: but evenly, openly, manage the matter

Of John the aforesaid, born we know to be as he is,

The appetites, the big hands, the books and errors his.

With witnesses, they to this long document subscribe,

Parties of the first and second part, these words a web

Caught round them both and lying round them lightly,

Drawn now, and to be drawn through time tightly

While stars overhead, and air-masses, and wars move

Across the earth neither with love nor without love.