"If I had my way, if I had my way, if I had my way..."

First post in a while, I realize.

Standard Spenserian with my signature 15th line-title.

Only notable trivia is that this one went through two complete sextet/title combos.  I'm posting the final version first, with the unsatisfactory version second. Which do you prefer?

"... May this sad koan to my bread be yeast." -5/09/09

Now come, Delilah, lay your shears aside;

I tire of losing strength and losing hope,

Just tie the hair you've cut into a rope.

Although the separation means it's died,

In that is found the downfall of my pride

And narrowing of my potential scope:

The end of my ability to cope

And all salvation that was there implied.

So, from this state, can one who once began

From this bald place restart, though now the less;

And if I start the climb, perhaps the beast

May one day find himself where once a man

Had bravely dared to stand and to confess

That he was not his maker in the least...

(Unsatisfactory version)

"... Restore me to the race which once I ran" -5/9/09

Now come, Delilah, lay your shears aside;

I tire of losing strength and losing hope,

Just tie the hair you've cut into a rope.

Although the separation means it's died,

In that is found the downfall of my pride

And narrowing of my potential scope:

The end of my ability to cope

And all salvation that was there implied.

Perhaps a worm might crawl into that mess

and tangle, till he reach the topmost knot

And find himself a beast, where once a man

Had bravely dared to stand and to confess

That he was not his maker, though he sought

The one who did, and most of all who can...

"... I'd burn this whole building down."

-L