the birds flee swift
their sights on sun
the trees shiver bare
their leaves all gone
to dens beasts shuffle
and sleep til spring
my blood runs cold
at what long nights bring
I raise my arms
and stretch a strand
small fragile bulbs
from out my hand
such weak defence
against a foe
who gobbles day
and makes light go
those twinkling sparks
remind my heart
that though it seems
like all is dark
time will fly on
and in the end
the dawn returns
to rise again
that fills your eyes
when through the trees
by moon surprised
or how the lines
that grace your lips
grow deeper as
each cup you sip
whose voice can wake
your sleeping soul
or make you laugh
without control
who hears you when
the day is done
the ups and downs
the race you’ve run
the shallow steps
you take each day
add up to much
deep in your way
who finds you there
and holds you close
content to be
who loves you most
my finger traces the lines
broken flesh sewn together
signs of healing never forgotten
no longer smooth
skin once soft and supple
now split by a jagged line
interrupted peace roughly torn
but stronger now
a bit of broken glass
a curious toddler's reach
now a white streak on a pink palm
remember when
longer wider shows one
tracing the shoulder blade straight
marks of a surgeon's skill and care
diseases battled
hidden from my keen touch
deeper lie the unseen breaks
whispered words that burn like fire
just yesterday
I marvel looking close
between the cracks I see now
a light come shining through my scars
becoming glory
we paint a scene
professing knowledge
by other means
than face to face
one to another
we’d rather not try
and keep our brother
who stands apart
outside our touch
because we fear
it’d be too much
to let him close
give him free choice
the risky option
to hear his voice
and find he might
think differently
would rock the core
of you and me
so safe we stay
in our glass shell
and prattle on
the words we tell
