A great expanse -
a flat plateau entranced  by
the gardens

below.

There's water there, and Oh! how thirsty I have been in this desert.

If you gave me one hard push to the edge
up and over,
if the mayhem was there and the ledge
disappeared...

is that where inspiration lies?

The grass there seems so GREEN from here.

To harvest water from a desert you must create,
I suppose,
an oasis to bathe you
until at last you are clean of the dust
from this place,

lest you continue to waste your water
on a cry

that your grass is too brown
and your ground is too flat
and, lord help you, your desert is dry.

Even the one
who lights the world
can succumb to the darkness inside.

We become blind
and see only the light.

The darkness can easily hide.

So you've scattered yourself
to the billions of stars that
blanket the billowing night

to help hold at bay
the darkness that preys
on the strong
and the weak
and the rich
and the poor
and the brilliant
and dull ones
alike.

You gave of yourself
with such ferocity of truth.

You fought with all of your might.

So thank you, old friend
for sharing your gift
and rest now
in peaceful twilight.