Still and all, if you ask in that way, I might reply – “peace.”
Although the wind would likely disagree and would be
Pressed to bring the gushing creek to share the thought
Among our loose wrapped memories are few
With ribbons tied —
No disappointment showing
The fireplace chafes at
Keeping all that pent up sun between the blackened dogs
And calmly turning twisted pine unto soot
Something’s wild and vengeful
In your eyes – something like to hate that
Shakes the earth and strips the forest bare
Tornados, hurricanes, wars and derision,
Let these come Christmas Eve.
We’ll find some virtue in combatting
Joy in gritting our bared gnashing teeth
It’s when becalmed our canyons start to gape
Our wolves are still, I
Know my insides come unzipped
It’s then I cannot stand or understand
The shepherd or the sheep
But longing (though I wish it weren’t so)
And thoroughly betrayed by — Love.