January 7-February 14, 2020

he found he walked

from evening into darkness

trading isolation for a loneliness

wrapped within a silence

far too deep for breath

or words, even

chasm deep enough for the tears

pride would not let fall

pride,

or courage,

or something like

which held his smile

up

even as his heart

fell

into the question at the end

of too big an empty

for life to flow around

too small, far, far too small

for life to enter

weeping tears unseen

for the abundance

of absent time

and if you asked him of it

of the day he’s scarce surviving

in the instant between shoe and door

he could but squeeze a weak

“Okay”

into a silence cut short by haste

could but paste band aid smiles

on the pain scornful any balm

wish you well into your way