the unknown roars
with a deafening silence
that obliterates the mundane
raising fears from deep within
that we didn't know we had

so we attempt
to pace the time-worn path
one step at a time
one more time

there is nowhere to hide

sleeping dogs don't lie
they only speak the truth
the truth of everything

the truth of every being
is that we all just want to eat
and nap under the sun

unless it's summertime
then we would prefer
to sleep in the shade

i was just a kid
the first and last time
i picked up a barnyard kitten
she hit me with every sharp thing
she had in her arsenal
including her hiss
which i felt as much as i heard
in the same way you feel the rattle
when you hear the snake
that day i learned that
even cute things can be ugly

solomon-shaming lilies
glow in morning's glory and
border the path as it emerges
from the shaded olive grove

stopping me with grace as
sunrise rays warm my face
and dispell the cold night as
the slumbering world awakens

swallow tail butterflies flit
under sacred dogwood clouds
that mimic rapture's sign as they
diffuse golden hour radiance

honeysuckle perfume inspires
birdsong's layered dawn chorus
and i know the tomb is empty
as nature's love envelopes me

blood-twig dogwoods
howl at the blue moon
while hollow-eyed susans
dance on chinook winds

pale purple monkshood
death-rite prayer chants
are swallowed whole by
yellow-throat daylily laughter

the good-news sunflower
tries to misremember the
night-shaded moonflowers that
bind her gospel to the earth

morning glory intentions
are not what they seem
hearalded by down-turned
white-truth angel trumpets

early in the morning
with the world still lost in sleep
the stars told me a story
of a secret they can't keep

a young man lost his way
and walked into a forest
stumbled aimlessly for days
then found a cave to rest

when he awoke he found
while alone inside his cave
the forest disappeared
and now a field of graves

he rose from his tomb
and walked into the midst
a graven granite wasteland
enveloped in thick mist

he wandered there for years
searched for her resting place
and finding hallowed ground
with reverent lowered gaze

in sacrificial ritual
he opened his true self
bled tears upon her stone
and begged her for her help

his dying prayer was heard
by the sacred earth
she relayed to the stars
the story of his birth

he was a son of god
imprisoned in this land
and helpless wandering
was all that he did have

the stars were moved with pity
and upon him they bestowed
the knowledge of his origin
and all that he was owed

the old man raised his head
for the first time saw himself
and brave knight that he was
he walked with providence

he crossed the field of death
back to the darkened wood
lay in his lonely cave
to awaken in the world

i stumbled to the shower
and glancing in the mirror
i saw the fearless knight
in my eyes appear