What do you think you’ll find there—

in hollows—the fragrant hills of skepticism?

Will you find their lies hidden in them?

Will you find a retreat from lies?

Madwoman/Madman?

Do those rumors then become

an illness of the ear, infectiously

transmitting voices of people nearby

who never appear?

live in hillocks’ mendicant shadows?

How far will you go

to escape the long crucifix

of civilization, the backbone

of suffering and wisdom?

You will face them all,

once again, in the hollows

of your mind’s deepest integrity.

The astigmatized will recall you

as ‘enemy’. This is how decent folks

will see you because you’ve taunted

them and it’s obvious

you cannot stand them.

They will rue every day you live.

their weight

you choose to depart

into the scenery and abyss

of an anonymous grave.

he/she remains unforgotten.

the eternal departure

never returning to climates

you once knew.

to birds and animals;

the Great Flood of Unknowing,

and you will be truly friend

to Heaven

while you live.

the world imagines a dark day for you

inevitable crash landings.

Apocalyptic endings are their

nameless punishment for your history;

lost in battle; soon forgotten;

scoured names in the ranks of

high flying aces.

They all see history as war.

God’s fight was never fighting words.

Unable to forget how easily you scampered

into little holes in the wall like a tiny

mouse prince/princess. A true charm to behold,

sure and fleet-footed.

it reminded us all how we

delivered ourselves

to the sucker-punch.

and I am blessed

to know you still.

for your love

and fearlessness.