Saturday, September 26, 2009

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

Monday, September 21, 2009

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.