night drapes
day spreads
stars emit light
moons conceal dark
around the north star-fire
away from the south moon-water
stars journey
moons remain
in their wake
at their rest
stories extend
stories retract

swift bird of prey soars
moment of truth elusive—
true nature concealed




© 2020 by Mark Toney. All rights reserved.

If we threw off each person's veil,
Revealed the darkness that exists in each,
Many would be taken aback,
A keen understanding we would reach.

There is bad in each person,
Some conceal it better than others;
They fret that their sin is showing,
To their sisters and brothers.

There is also good present
In all of earth's people;
Even the ones that we deem
To be irrefutably evil.

No human is perfect,
For we are a very imperfect species;
We thrive on the emotion that builds and breaks us,
The things that teach or break us to pieces.

I am not calling you to remove your veil,
Nor do you have to tell your sins;
I am simply saying examine yourself,
Your outs and your ins.

Know yourself better than you know
This complicated world;
Only then will you find peace
During life into which you were hurled.