What is the flesh and blood compounded of <br />But a few moments in the life of time? <br />This prowling of the cells, litigious love, <br />Wears the long claw of flesh-arguing crime. <br />Consider the first settlers of our bone, <br />Observe how busily they sued the dust, <br />Estopped forever by the last dusted stone. <br />It is a pity that two brothers must <br />Perceive a canker of perennial flower <br />To make them brothers in mortality: <br />Perfect this treason to the murderous hour <br />If you would win the hard identity <br />Of brothers a long race for men to run <br />Nor quite achieved when the perfection's won.<br /><br />Allen Tate<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/sonnets-of-the-blood-i/
