Within this light
I carry, I am only
able to see beyond
myself a certain way
into the darkness.
Friends turn as I
enter; in greeting,
I nod as if I know
anything more
than who I once was.
I bring what I can
to the table, scraps
of past ideas I can
no longer patch
together as one.
I try to listen,
but only sense
the conversation’s
rhythms and flow
dancing in the room.
Uncaught in any
ear, I watch my
metaphors die
gasping in need
of explanations.
The noise becomes
my silence, a cocoon
to comfort into safe
solace while the world’s
fangs drip in hunger.
(April 28, 2014)
subtext 