Doute

Like a snake it whispers behind 

my ear and coils itself

around my spine--

it constricts around my rib-

cage and squeezes my heart. 

This ground forming waves beneath me:

my boat capsizes into the 

winter flurries that obstruct my view

of a true north I'll never

find.  

The pendulum 

swings from ear to ear 

and upsets lady justice

with her scales. 

The clock's second hand is 

a hostage

holding resolve for ransom 

while action and conviction

deliberate over sums. 

It explains away those

certain thoughts

with a hissing caress

I tick away with 

my shoulder 

until the ticking touches me

and it becomes itself. 

Halo

Yes, it's true you have a light

that's burned into my soul. It is 

small and dim, but I see it there 

when you are not looking. 

On the days when I dare myself to touch it

I reach out, and I'm glad I did.

In that brief moment, our two lights join,

embracing one another

they leave behind the bands 

that hold themselves to us and

reach out their once-feeble arms 

to touch across cities, countries, continents--

emboldened by the spirit they find there...

but my light withdraws in fear and shame

when it can see no halo beneath your 

collar.