Road

when I woke up,
I had a fragment of a memory
as if something had blown up
“what have I done?” was my inquiry

I recall:
some words spilled out.
nonchalant, I thought.
but they were explosive,
at least to those around.

how words trace back to the lips
like dark footsteps in white snow
how dangerous those words can be
like black ice, biding its time for revenge

2.9.2023

Stay

at the moment with embrace the full impact:
the pang of shame, regret, guilt, and whatnot;
I know that impulse — impulse to end it all —
but just don’t go yet.

don’t go walking into that darkness yet.

stay a little while.
take a deep breath with me — and
let it go — as naturally as it all should be.

notice the white dots in the dark sky —
shining brightly, traveling across universe —
to meet you at your eyes.

so stay a little while longer.
take it one step at a time.
in time, we’ll get there
and look back at it all and smile.

2.5.2023