the longest night

below the dark distorting mirror
(from the dreary long before)
feel the river's crushing coils
we drink from its blackened currents
(how to make it safe ashore)
as we stumble, hurt and toil

our history in the making
(i meander in plain sight)
all those wishes now seem wrong
sharing battles, seeking wonder
(wide awake i lie tonight)
we are merely pulled along

coasting helplessly on quicksand
(feel the river's crushing coils)
blind and deaf we're torn adrift
with my bare hands i dig deeper
(as we stumble, hurt and toil)
where we never dared to sift

a disquiet no more dormant
(all those wishes now seem wrong)
from the dreary long before
i weigh up the fateful question
(we are merely pulled along)
how to make it safe ashore

donning glasslike futile armor
(blind and deaf we're torn adrift)
i meander in plain sight
shuffling back and forth the choices
(where we never dared to sift)
wide awake i lie tonight

(2022)

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