JustAnotherFineDay

dancing lights in a wrought-iron frame
chilled hands testing the distance
eager for warmth and wary of pain
who knew July could be so cold?

a dozen chairs ring the fire
most full, some empty soon to be filled
one just empty

laughter warms the midnight air
home-grown wine warms the laughing

the empty chair remains cold
no matter how the flames dance
the shadows seem settled there

my eyes settle too
on the time-worn darkness
in that chair

the fire explodes
my gaze drawn up
toward the crackling embers
soaring into the greater dark

my eyes follow
as the glowing fading ashes
join the star-dusted sky

I look to the point
where sparks become stars
and I am co

dancing lights in a wrought-iron frame
chilled hands testing the distance
eager for warmth and wary of pain
who knew July could be so cold?

a dozen chairs ring the fire
most full, some empty soon to be filled
one just empty

laughter warms the midnight air
home-grown wine warms the laughing

the empty chair remains cold
no matter how the flames dance
the shadows seem settled there

my eyes settle too
on the time-worn darkness
in that chair

the fire explodes
my gaze drawn up
toward the crackling embers
soaring into the greater dark

my eyes follow
as the glowing fading ashes
join the star-dusted sky

I look to the point
where sparks become stars
and I am co

stop
breathe
feel your heartbeat
listen to the roaring and ringing in your ears 

unclench
release
dangle your arms
let your tension sink into the floor 

look
look all around
let your eyes drift
see what you’ve never noticed before 

arch
reach up
shake your hands and feet
move freely and wildly, move however you need 

sigh
scream
let it pour out
give your voice to the world 

breathe
then breathe again
it’s all you can do to prove that you’re here
it’s all that you can do

stop
breathe
feel your heartbeat
listen to the roaring and ringing in your ears 

unclench
release
dangle your arms
let your tension sink into the floor 

look
look all around
let your eyes drift
see what you’ve never noticed before 

arch
reach up
shake your hands and feet
move freely and wildly, move however you need 

sigh
scream
let it pour out
give your voice to the world 

breathe
then breathe again
it’s all you can do to prove that you’re here
it’s all that you can do

Let us see
what lies beyond
the future’s veil
together.

Let us see
what lies beyond
the future’s veil
together.

A heaviness lies on my skin
A weight sinks in my bones
Time clings to the walls
Every thought dissolves
I close my eyes against the lights
And let my breathing slow
This day must surely end
Though the hours crawl

A heaviness lies on my skin
A weight sinks in my bones
Time clings to the walls
Every thought dissolves
I close my eyes against the lights
And let my breathing slow
This day must surely end
Though the hours crawl

I am walking on a razor wire
high up in the air.

Below and to my right
are raging flames and acid rains,
heaving earth and roaring floods,
clouds of dust and toxic haze.

Below and to my left
there is an empty void,
creeping darkness, all-consuming,
purged of light and joy.

But straight ahead is quiet balance
threading through it all.
I take a breath, then take a step,
and pray that I don’t fall.

I am walking on a razor wire
high up in the air.

Below and to my right
are raging flames and acid rains,
heaving earth and roaring floods,
clouds of dust and toxic haze.

Below and to my left
there is an empty void,
creeping darkness, all-consuming,
purged of light and joy.

But straight ahead is quiet balance
threading through it all.
I take a breath, then take a step,
and pray that I don’t fall.

There is no light in the world.
We are, each of us, fumbling
our way through the dark
by means that differ from person to person,
that vary from day to day.

Today, I set my pen to paper
in hope of stumbling forward.
I haven’t yet found the way,
but I’m sure that it is there—
there is always a way forward.

I reach my hands out,
grasping blindly.
At times, I find clues
left by those gone ahead:
marks and scents and sounds,
immortal guides passing through time
to show me the way.

Sometimes, I reach out to find
another hand reaching back
to pull me swiftly and surely
through treacherous, winding passages,
then letting go
with a whispered assurance
that

There is no light in the world.
We are, each of us, fumbling
our way through the dark
by means that differ from person to person,
that vary from day to day.

Today, I set my pen to paper
in hope of stumbling forward.
I haven’t yet found the way,
but I’m sure that it is there—
there is always a way forward.

I reach my hands out,
grasping blindly.
At times, I find clues
left by those gone ahead:
marks and scents and sounds,
immortal guides passing through time
to show me the way.

Sometimes, I reach out to find
another hand reaching back
to pull me swiftly and surely
through treacherous, winding passages,
then letting go
with a whispered assurance
that

Lashing rain
streaks the glass
a single cloud
this too shall pass

I move through this world
like a leaf on the wind
effortless, helpless
a captive thought free

borne aloft on a whim
but no whim of my own
carried here and carried there
on currents I can't see

so should I ever flutter on by
spare a prayer, if you will, for me

A single step
is not so far—
I tell myself,
standing still.