Lunacy

My battle with depression has been like
the moon’s battle with the sea;
long, slow tugs of war,
perceptible only to the unobservant.
—————
The ocean is breathing,
in gasps and sighs, and awkward waves,
unable to stop from chasing
the ever-falling pearl.

Odysseys

I always feel loneliest when I wake up—
when I reach into the matted darkness,
and feel only the cold side of the bed.

Weren’t you here just a moment ago?
I must have been dreaming of you again,
though for now my memory is merciful.

I remember passing time in a borrowed bed.
I would have stayed in that room forever,
tracing fingerprint tessellations in your skin.

Unfortunately things didn’t work out that way,
but you’re still out there, somewhere,
and it’s not too late for you

to find your way home.

Digital Analogy

It's been years since I heard your voice, your true voice,
resonating through your delicate bones,
and breaking apart in the unworthy air.

Instead, through some miracle of the modern age,
I am given electronic reinterpretations
and dot-matrix portraits, in the style of Life.

It's not that I'm ungrateful for our conveniences--
I love the glow of your digital ghost--
but I do miss that third dimension,

(and those other three senses).

Ginnungagap

I’m too tired to focus.
I lie paralyzed, staring into the near-total darkness.
My wandering thoughts pause on my open eyes,
and the black holes yawning in their centers,
stretching to swallow every stray photon,
and force it to mean something.

Tonight, the winds blow black.