we cannot breathe

there is more than one virus constricting our airways

enemies among us invisible and obvious

can’t you see 

we should be scared and saddened

for where we have not made it to

more than hope is needed 

if not now, when

a life set afire

embers burning 

faster than tears

tears I wish I’d jarred

but now falling 

disappearing into the earth

days will outlast the flames

as floating chords from your guitar 

pluck at my heart

I may be lost 

yet I’m lacking worry

with getting back anytime soon

I’ll take the long way

even with no clear path

best laid plans had not considered this pain 

calling for a pause

stars hang in the lonesome valley 

watching over all the love

time is set upon the expected

on time each day 

trains leave the station 

this feeling is brand new

cold and enormous

and fear is not far from home 

tones I am hearing underwater 

are clear to me now

as I have drown many times before

I’m still watching you sleep

in unsettled darkness

where the candle no longer burns

all portions of us will eventually be buried

unforgotten

carved in the trunk of my soul 

forever

unfamiliar eyes flashed goodbye long ago 

bones were all that remained

the road ahead 

is far too wide for just one 

it has become a chore to stay on track 

in all this space

lonelier than this it’s never been

watching shadows creep in

thinking its way too early to be this dark 

looking over my shoulder

the horizon strangles the sun

when my time in the sun arrives

will there be anyone around 

the audience matter does not matter

reckoning is suited for one 

I was trying to listen close 

when words would not come 

the screaming silence is painful to the heart

invisible to the lonely

heros often walk alone 

before you were born 

there was no you and me

without the balance 

I can’t recall how I walked back then

unsteady but calm 

from destiny unscripted

touch now lies lies forever elusive

this too was written 

in later chapters

walking without words 

can get me lost in infinite thoughts

high time to realize 

the songs inside my head 

are not the life I’m living

words have become my companions

often lonely, but not alone

change will pose frequent questions

of what was meant to be 

searching for sleep 

in a bed too big

I’ve been wearing a path in the night

the moon as my witness

pushing the pen across the page 

in hours with no beginning or end

translating the quiet takes some time

patience comes with a price

on the path to peace

her words were song 

melting over me

my eyes locked to keep pace 

with her hands tracing down my chest

her presence filled my glass 

before I could reach bottom

everything she was

keeps pulling me along

doing the best I can

missing you keeps welling inside

peace is sought 

along countless paths

battles will rage

winners and losers often sharing a side

ghosts never disappear in the end

it may be buried 

do not be deceived

many have drowned in these shallows

storms keep crashing

I am fearful

but i don’t want to lose the rain

vibrant souls

certify the roots 

profound and sturdy

I don’t remember falling

but landing in a heap was inevitable

as I had been stumbling for far too long

I can get up 

but will stay for a moment or two

face down, earth imprinted in my brow

the soil smells of summer

birds above me are in song

bumble bees vibrate in flyovers

the pace has been too swift

to recognize the pieces 

that hold us together

is this the reminder that changes the course

time will tell, but keep in mind 

time waits for no one

as I rise to start again

a grin pulls at my cheeks

laughing at myself

until the calm 

of your hand in mine

words stir inside

some bleed to the page 

others bounce upon my brain

filling space in syllables

bridging time in moments