Somehow
somewhere
some time
despite
grit and courage
despite
our best intention
despite
pouring our heart
into that we
value most
we'd find
no clear passage
as though
we are in
a negative country--

is the pursuit real
or but a deluded dream?

nothing grows
in that territory
the rivers are dry
no one lives there
not even a bird's cry
hidden is the sky
no cloud rolls by
silence broods deep
darkness abides-
at first appearance
morning's beams die

give me a face
give me a human voice
my heart-beats
I hear in rapid rhythm
this is a hellish place

my steps
I must retrace
though home
is not nigh

at a midnight hour
a voice descends
from nowhere
and this it speaks:
you failed
as you left
your heart behind!