Walking at night
in the space between
the vault of the sky
and the black pavement,
remember this space
growing small.
Standing suddenly tall
hair tangling in the fall leaves.
Keep your heart on duty,
wait a beat as the world slows
with face tilted upward
and moon mirroring eyes.
Embrace the silence.
In the night, imagine more,
rocks and trees take new shapes,
let dream and darkness create light.
Walk shadow to shadow,
eyes, open, daring to invoke the dark
The silhouettes stand there naked,
stark, and ready to speak
mouths opened wide
in a silent cry,
as though to catch the sky in their teeth,
they taste the air,
tongues colliding with the stars.
Here, train your eyes
to see what is not far away,
see further into yourself.
War with your own mind,
sly in battle, hand on hilt,
she waits to steal your smile.
If you pass your own trials,
even the very flowers will be your lesson,
they lean forward, face into rain showers,
as they do the sun.
Pain is to be learned from.
Crave the sky, reach upwards,
plant yourself firmly in the earth.
If you ask why, and receive no answer
don’t stop believing.
Stillness is sacred, too.
When you move,
Teach the body to run
as old hounds run even at their ends.
With leaps and limps and bounding
strides of long bending legs.
Strong until death,
they ride the earth
the ground welcomes them.
Welcome your friends as they would.
With wriggling exultation,
teach your whole body joy,
and let it give joy in return.
Let your soul guide your hands,
Teach them how
to know the other
Reach out with both arms
to your sisters
Wipe the tears from your brother’s face
with your own fingers.
Take this place for your own,
this space between,
bow into yourself,
take what you see in the dark.
