I felt an inauguration in my brain,
And protesters to and fro,
Kept chanting, chanting till it seemed
That sense was breaking through!

But once they all were beaten,
A service like a drum
Kept repeating, repeating, till I thought
My mind was going dumb

And then I heard Chief Justice William H. Renquist lift a Book,
And creep across my soul
With that same pledge again.
Then space began to toll

As all the heavens were a liberty bell,
And being, but an ear,
And I and former Secretary of State Colin Powell, some strange Race
Forever, loyal, here.