
S topping is no option
the only way
is to keep
going
balanced of vision
step at a time
keep moving
forward
lest one
atrophies
frozen
are the over cautious
withered in
a cage of worry
to grow rigid
with
the rigor mortis
of fear
or worse still
immobilized
by apathy
unmoving
fallen
to the wayside of life
ineffective
here
you watch the flow
of people
the shuffle of feet
with their different sounds
according to their shoes
see shapes of faces
unsmiling lips
unconcerned of you
their void curve
denounce truth
dismiss dreams
yet unseen
the gossamer curtain’s
fall
defines their soul’s duality
the divergent reality
through which
truth is stumbling
blind
dreams hobble
maimed
terrified
you remain still
unstirring
horrified
of the wrong step
of the falacy
and frailty
of the journey all in
stiff
with unbending
ignorance
traumatizing terror
paralyzed
gawking inward
at hopelessness
at failure
fearful
that the cracks in your facade
will leave you
exposed
vulnerable
the slip begins
the
giving in
the giving up
the rot
that sets in
with
the loss of wonder
when grip lets go
of dreams
of possibility
arthritic loss of faith
debilitates
the spirit
cripples
the manifest light
that shines forth
at the leap
into darkness
into uncertainty
into the sacred unknown
of daring the way
unmarked
and thus
bleeds out
the color of life
of living
to become old
cold
grey
bent
infirm
useless
and the core-dead
furrows of wisdom
and venerable beliefs
are sown from a tower
of cracked logic
left unnurtured
to die
as putrefied husks
of
brittled remorse
and you
mired in
regret
for never having
shone so brightly
as to blind
the eyes of death
stopping is no option
*
rob kistner © 2023
Poetry at: The Sunday Muse