It is a mistake to regard feelings as uniformly trivial
Or as harmful without exception
Though often feelings qualify as little more
Than unreasoning passion
But reasons transcend the poisonous opposition
Of a subjective and an objective world
Have I not reason to lament
The poet wrote in early spring
When objective conditions interrupted
The languor of his pleasant mood

Passing moods and reactions
Differ perhaps from emotional attitudes of great duration
But whether transitory or long abiding
The feelings sometimes stand to reason
But sometimes seem poised only
To break reason like a butterfly upon the wheel
Overkill of overkills

A passion for paper products
A passion for the metropolitan team
The orgasm of crushing an opponent to death
The item on the résumé
The applause line in a motivational speech

But to feel the grief of loss
To gape in wonder at a natural miracle
To suffer indignation at unnecessary suffering
To bless the beauty of godlike creation
The swelling song
The gathering cresting song