Light gathers and scatters
from first days to last rites,
and on the days in between
when it seems the world
might fold or crack, light
finds a new path for those
who can bear to look.

Unlocked.

Mouths and eyes and outlines of form
bending in the dark
Never quite sure of the landscape
Where to place feet or hands
Wondering at sounds from trees nearby
The quiet air crackling with otherworldly energy,
Keeping secrets from the light of day
But the stars know and aren’t telling.
I can’t speak to my own purpose
any clearer than a drop of dew
on a fencepost.
I hope it’s worth it
for as long as I can stand it.
She was bedecked with jangles and suede
ready for a cool drink in a dim pub
excited to build something beyond her
But he wanted to sit across from her
in a vinyl booth with coffee
in cracked ceramic anxious to tear away
jagged bits of himself he held close.
Their projections of themselves barely
fit the other, but close enough so
mental acrobatics were like emo foreplay
and sparks between them glowed
as pure as muffled glittery first snow.
The rain didn’t register over the things
they didn’t need to say.