This Long Night - Lisa Shulman

[Lawrence Robinson]

This Long Night

The bad do not win—not finally. 
-Alberto Ríos

You awaken in darkness 
damp chill shivers your bones 
makes you curl tighter 
beneath the threadbare blanket 
you believed could keep you warm 

Know in your flickering heart it cannot 
know it is time to throw it off 
to step barefoot onto cold floorboards 
and fling open the window 
to this long night 

It is dark, yes, but see 
there are stars pricking the black sky 
a pale smile of moon 
peering out behind the clouds 

You gather up what small magic you can—
bright stones, dried petals, the memory
of trees and rivers
blow a tiny flame to flickering
and step outside

There is faint light on the horizon
and to your left and your right
the star-like sparks brought by the others
all moving with you
toward dawn

	- Lisa Shulman
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.sonic.net/pipermail/poetrylovers/attachments/20251220/dfe13560/attachment.htm>