We attempt rescue, unable to bear
the stardust-coated dragonfly
beat, beat, beating
frantic on the glass.

We entice him to perch
on our extended lifeline-broom
nurse him in a box, where he flutters
quivers, lies quietly blue.

My son cries bitterly
as we place a minute cross
upon the dragonfly grave
while intoning our final goodbyes:

We honor those who have fallen victim
to this fatal architectural trap, lured
by skylights of enticing white-light death
and the paned illusion of freedom.

In admiration of winged determination
and perseverance in the face of futility
we carefully tend the fragile, curved bodies
lay them here to rest under the mock orange.

years of gauze-weighted detritus
swept beneath these ponderous shrubs
a reminder - what seems like freedom
                                                         ­           often isn’t.

So many thoughts feelings expressions emotions
locked behind deadpan eyes and a voice that's toneless.
A mountain of a person consolidated to this form.
A body unimpressive.
A face unexpressive.
The chaos upstairs requires all of my attention.

Conversing takes a back-seat which is why I seem distant.
Too many things to say only leaves me in silence.
I don't know how or where to begin.
If only I could let you inside to weather the storm
maybe you could make sense of this nonsense and bring me to port.

I sometimes hold it half a sin
  To put in words the grief I feel;
  For words, like Nature, half reveal
And half conceal the Soul within.

But, for the unquiet heart and brain,
  A use in measured language lies;
  The sad mechanic exercise,
Like dull narcotics, numbing pain.

In words, like weeds, I'll wrap me o'er,
  Like coarsest clothes against the cold:
  But that large grief which these enfold
Is given in outline and no more.

And now is the time
             when I gather
my tribe around me
All the sacred members
            sworn to loyalty
from lands near and far
as we unify as one
and follow that distant star
                   move forward into
the deep promised darkness
                           of night
almost stealthily
as to not wake up the enemy
even if we know
that here there is no
                       real enemy
only the fragments of ourselves
that battle each other secretly
in our quest for learning
dreams that weave their way
                  around our brains
only the questions
that pierce with arrowed pain
with desert static glowing quiet
dusky murmurs of whispers
in their tacit riot        
                  braiding their way
like prayers in the soul
And so you are with me
            helping me stay whole                  
Holding my hands
as I go to release my burden
and let go of the tactical
                   remnants of what was
Express the undoing
                       that must happen
Put the new phase into
tender sprightly action
          there simply is no choice
no turning back now
and you my loving
                  truth warriors
Tribe of so many facets
You have encircled me with
          the most lit up aura ever
Together we long for the dream
beams of light
as we march forward
kindred spirits
into the glowing arc of dawn
and I am ready
to plunge
into the newness of fire
ride the waves of passion
feed pure white desire
So walk with me
             to the sacred ground
Soon I will be back
to complete the next round
The battle has only just begun
whatever has been started
simply must be done
As I step into
              freedom's new sphere
with you at my side
there is simply
no fear

'

Listen,
Learn,
Read,
Write,
Sing,
Laugh,
Love,
Dance,
Lean,
Defy,
Rebel,­
Reveal,
Encourage,
Portray,
Show,
Dismay,
Share,
and Live.

It seems I have forgotten what life was like without you,
I guess it wasn't very memorable
...until you came along