Darkness Approaches

it is early evening and
a drink has found its way
into her hand while a
heaviness settles
inside her heart

her feet hit the hot concrete
of a texas back patio
warmly, they wander across
lightly, they fall in a pattern
leading to an edge

she settles herself there and
the moon looks down
upon her quietly
showing her
only half of himself

she ponders the idea
of seeing only part
of someone
and wondering what else
might be there

the day has slipped away
as quickly and blindly
as usual, leaving behind
only the memory
of how hot it was

the sky tells her to look
it wants to remind her
that the day was bright and strong
by painting the edges
of her world

the streaks of a sunset
almost gone and forgotten
linger on the horizon
in blue, orange, purple
and gold

she wants to soak those in
remember them, cherish them
she wants to capture them
and carry them with her for
later

she knows that darkness approaches.

so wise, the moon

In a lonely backyard under a full moon
weeks of untamed grasses
tickle the bottoms of bare feet

wind chimes usually soft and melodious
sing out furiously, keeping time with the
stinging breath of a riling wind

while goosebumps break the skin
unprotected by sleeves of any kind tonight
a chin tilts skyward; hair whips madly

clouds up above that might otherwise linger
on a warmer, more lazy night
rush by overheard now

hurry hurry hurry
the wind is chasing at them
biting their heels, anxiously

lips part in a lack of self awareness
arms hang at sides, uselessly
eyes widen, taking it in, lost in the clouds

they seem to cover the sky
but for spaces of black ink in patches
large and small, leaked from some large well

and puffy thick here, thin and wan there
they flow, flit, fly by
racing past the moon

the orb burns bright and wide and round
and doesn’t flinch as each band of cloud
stretches and gallops before it

the glowing eye, stoic and almost aware
instead creates an explosion of color, a rainbow
bursting from nowhere, everywhere, right there on each cloud

lips purse and eyes narrow
then the mouth bends in a crooked smile
gears spin in my mind as my right brow arches

oh to be like the moon -
to brightly color and then chase away
all the fluff that dares to come between you and me.

The moon on my face, your breath at my back.

Always the first to push off from the light
The fastest car, the quickest start
I see them in my rear-view.

I see you
Behind me.

so what is there to rush off to?
what is so important
that I have to be the first one
every time?

why do I have to make sure you are behind me?
why do I have to go first?

must get there.
what is so important?

the moon hangs heavy in the sky tonight
she hangs low
so low
a half moon, like a milky breast
so big, grazing the horizon
tempting, teasing, calling my attention.

against my better judgment
my eyes flick to her
the moon
the heavy, half bust in the sky
over and over again.

as the car pulses onward
every time faster than all of the
rest of you
i steal endless glances
of the moon
calling me to her.

urging me to go faster.

challenging me to get to her first.

instead of watching the things
i should be watching
instead of keeping my eyes on
what is most important

i am making sure I rush onward
i have to get there fast
beat you
beat them
get my prize.

that is what I’m doing, right?
rushing forward because I have something to gain.

or maybe
the truth is that
i am fleeing what lies behind.

the moon is just my scapegoat.
an easy target.
a pleasant distraction.

either way.
I’m fast.