Light fingers
brush across a shoulder,
standing hairs on end.
A gentle caress
sends shivers
skittering down the spine.
A cool touch
sets the mind
racing.
But this touch,
so hollow,
so empty,
a vacant echo
of affection,
untrue, deceptive.
Counterfeits of love,
icy fingers trace
veins of sorrow.
An insincere embrace
stirs the mind,
inspiring false hope.

My own hand,
my own arm,
curled around me.
A vain attempt
to bring your love
to where I lie.

On silent wings it flies
across the jeweled midnight skies,
cloaked in darkness.

Flitting past hill and dale,
always hidden by Night's veil,
it is circling.

Patiently, I lie, wait
for its embrace in this hour late,
so I may rest.

Anon, it alights near,
bringing comfort, quenching fear.
sleep has found me.

I hear her Siren song
and, knowing now it won't be long,
I surrender.

Lonesome heart,
when the past is past, and the past lies dead,
let it lie.

Now is.
Then was.  Tomorrow shall be.
But now is.

Too soon, what is becomes what was.
And what will be becomes what is.
But what was remains what was.

Before now lives, it is dreamt.
And after now expires, it is remembered.
Neither is substance.

But the now is the real.
Neither aspiration nor memory,
it is the vivid flame of certain present being.

The now is the turning point.
The cusp, the peak, the bleeding edge of now.
Dreams realized, memories recalled, the present.

Dream?
Certainly.
It gives now purpose.

Aspire?
Most definitely.
It gives now direction.

Remember?
But of course.
It shows now progress.

Reminisce?
Surely.
It shows now passion.

But you must be that now.
Always here, ever-present now.
Fiery, passionate, vivid now.

For the colors of now
outstrip the unformed hues of dreams
and the faded pale shades of the past.

The possibility of now,
more real than dream-shadows,
more potent than prospects left unrealized.

The only real time.
The only possibility.
The now.

In the deepest depths of darkest dreams,
I'm sure that no one hears my screams.
But while in pain and much distress,
You came to comfort, guide and bless.
You brought me out of grief and pain
and let the ice from my veins drain.
Your warmth and love upon me fell,
erasing thoughts of sin and hell.
You raised me up above my grief,
my tenure there mercifully brief.
Now that You're here, I'll never go;
I shall not sink back into woe.
I wish to stay forever here
beneath Your wings - so far from fear,
from painful strife, and sadness deep -
guided, watched over as I sleep.
Father, keep me safe.  Hold me tight
so I may never fear the night.

Oh World!
Consume me.
Take me up,
that my tears and sweat
may fall, not as blood
sprinkled upon my shoes and the rocks,
but as sweet cold rain upon the land,
that others may drink
and quench their thirst
as I was unable to slake mine.

Oh Earth!
Let this cup pass from me
that I may vainly toil no more.
let me leave these ***** hands,
these leaden arms,
and these dust-covered boots,
that I may find some sweeter rest.

Let me be done,
so I may lay in greener grass,
gaze up at bluer skies,
walk in quieter woods.
Let me sit in peace among the boughs
and remember
all the work that I have done,
the toils of every kind,
all the songs I left unsung
the melodies I left behind.

It is not yet dawn,
but still, I awaken
to the soft patter
of nighttime summer rain.

Gently it falls,
the warm breeze
ruffles the trees.

Branches caress my window,
reminiscent of some nightmare
now long gone.

Startling at first,
the rustle of branched fingers
soon melds with the soft drizzle.

Soothing and tender,
Nature’s melodies lull me
back to sleep.

I reach,
Fall,
Roll.

I lie,
Twisted,
Broken.

I rise,
Hobble,
Grimace.

I follow,
Obedient,
Helpless.

I collapse,
Fatigued,
Spent.

I cry,
Salty,
Bitter.

I feel,
Lost,
Weak.

I pray,
Steady,
Unceasing.

I crave,
Relief,
Deliverance.

I am,
Still
Waiting

*I find,
Love,
Comfort.

I am,
Unfettered,
Free.