Aftermath a poem ( Archived) (2)

another lonely dawn

echoing its emptiness

around, inside

traveling the corridors

of the soul

reminding me

of loss.

I don't think

that I’m a coward

I face the things

that must be done...

I go to work,

admit my mistakes

most of the time

live with effort

with attention

burning each moment

to the finest ash

to use it fully

on the subway, in the morning,

I practice tonglen

breathe in their pain

breathe out my peace

I look at faces

to see them

not just a slide

of eyes

across the surface

I look to see

to know them

for one moment

and if they look back at me

I leave my soul on view

in my eyes

the ultimate intimacy

this silent permission

to invade my spirit

...so many angry people...

yet today I am afraid

a voice whispers

you do not have to go

do not have to raise

your eyes...look down

shutter the house

of your soul

as if against a storm

keep them out

does this not make me

a prisoner

inside my own shell?

too many things

are changing

each way i look

the pathway is

uncharted

and my first encounter

of the day

was emptiness

it resonates

and I feel fear





Good morning.