I lead, grey follows
I shepherd it in ways my heart commands
I bleed, grey follows
I stitch up the wound and start again

I am unabridged
The death that I fear is only part of my story
I am tumbleweed
But I am blockaded by these shimmering cascades

I retreat, grey follows
Back to a world where my pen is my only weapon
I awaken, grey follows
I recognize that I'm completely off the beaten path

I am captive to my skeletons
And I cannot start from the beginning anymore
So I thatch a roof above my head
And build a floor below my heart

thunder with my eyes
beauty in her radiance heard
lost dark and  light
sweet and salty been
near
the moistness of many tears
called upon the deities
cried out for forgiveness
sinned as a devil fork tongued
been the forgiver
been forgiven

saw the Valley and the hill
the long track of life
the many steps taken the many steps lost
been saved and saviour
both good  bad and between
been an artist and a creator
a lost soul

among the many things the vales and
pinnacles I have roamed like a sheep
and I seek a shepherd or a light
or something that makes more sense
to me

but in case
in the case life is but a jest
a game I see
I played all sides of it
may that make me
less guilty
less me

in the end

A Stirring.

Three quivers of boldness coated in fur,
Courage minutely pawed at short grass
As that sunny day shone on a stirring
Of babiest mouse-life near my feet, fast
Yet unable to see, newborns on a spree
Posed for pictures and nibbled on cake
Like little pros, a shuffling trio of family
Shrews busied minikin fingers, quaking
Squeaky-delight as lips met free cuisine.
Whiskers a-twitch munching until Mum
Ushered them fussily holeward between
Sun-warmed granite stones. I had begun
To doubt the sighting encountered when
One tiny snout ducked out for eats again.