I don’t know when I stopped

trying to close the distance in your eyes.

However strong my halved limbs,

some places are too far and far gone

to run to.

Once upon a time, I named all my bridges perseverance

and built them unpermitted

in your heart stream.

You never halted construction

then let me solo dive my days away.

Deep in that blue, I never found a bottom,

and treading water is the same as running in place.

So, I grew matchsticks for finger tips

and swirled gasoline in my mouth,

spit flames with the same urgency

I once hammered points for your favor.

It took me 20 something years to learn to live in this temple,

I don’t have that kind of time to convince worship in yours.

I’m catalyst, you’re muse and too polar for harmony.

We never stood at the same time on even ground.

Here now, the sky displays forever fire

and opens behind me burning.

I have no place to go

but further away.