by the time
we see the light
it has already
died

I'm trying
not to let that
carry
too much meaning
but
it's getting more difficult
these days

celebrate the light
allow it to permeate
to dazzle
and blind

nothing is gained
from looking ahead
into its darkness
instead
celebrate its light;
that it reached you
at all

though it may have been brief
think
on what was gained
a light
         a warmth
                        a life

all weight
     and meaning
is not to be found
in the substance itself
there are spaces
between words;
pauses and pregnancies
or an absence altogether
that contains more
than semantics ever could

the trouble is finding
a balance that punctuates
the message appropriately;
otherwise you just
seem lost
or



disinterested

there is a point of no return
unthinkingly dismissed
a line crossed
bringing instant regret;
each and every decision
up until that moment
questioned
lamented
and rued
i have just crossed
that threshold again

the hangnail was
bitten and pulled
until flesh was torn
and the blood ran
now there is nothing
but discomfort

knowing full well
what i was doing;
there is no excuse
for such folly

it is not words
not even laughter
not a smile
nor a gesture
an expression
or opinion

there could be
silence;
nothing
but silence
and
our stillness

it would still be true.

we are stuck
between Scylla
                           and
        Charybdis
we know the path we must take
but
I fear
we will ignore
the warnings

we are still off course

there is no beauty
in freshly fallen snow
it is all a lie
it may appear
unblemished
immaculate
innocent
but takes little
to disturb
the perfection

this is a version
of what could be
but is only temporary
and cannot last;
as we strive
to live with it
our every action
spoils the purity
unveils the flaws
leaves us regretting
what we once tolerated
when we have glimpsed
an unobtainable beauty

sometimes
it doesn't matter
how beautiful
the birdsong

sometimes
all you want
is
to sleep