ebony nocturne charcoal cathedral
lunar vivified névé snow glow
celestial entity diamond light show

this time of year
so they don't disappear
i use my vacation days

i sit in a haze
thinking of ways
to justify deep hibernation

or at least a migration
to a southern location
until the warm weather's return

but for now I must burn
the hours I earn
because I must use them

or lose them

thick
no end to beginning
no way to begin the end
turning around
i see myself, feel myself
lost in the middle of everywhere

i look at you
you look at me
i only see myself
staring back into my eyes

do unto others
as you would
just remember
the others are you

when i walked in your shoes
and saw through your eyes
understood misunderstanding
not realizing that the me you saw
was the you that I see

living a blind life
seeing another
without seeing
myself

lifetime belief
world
comes in

in eyes
in hands
in ears
in nose

in mind

what if
world
goes out

mirror's reflection

mirror's projection

goes out
world
what if

out mind

out nose
out ears
out hands
out eyes

goes out
world
lifetime belief

heard without hearing
seen without seeing
touched without touching
odorous words
taste of pain

been without being
lived without living
died without dying
odorous words
taste of pain

felt without feeling
bruised without bruising
knelt without kneeling
odorous words
taste of pain

boulder blood birth
sheep stomped ****
dying dead debris
haven habitat home
friendly feeding full
planet populace plenty
mutually mothering masticating