We exist
in a fragile sphere
of suppressed possibility
gripped in the freeze
of a dark time
this slag-shattered
glass of the future
moves frail and slowly
through the arc of the ages
midst those who’ve waited
and watched
at the waning of truth
‘neath the uncertain moon
of deliberated ancients
this fractured orb
revolves in the void
of lightless null
not hearing
what we knew to be
the plaintive cries
of the lost
our echoed cries
blind to the light
of the dawning
that heralds a new word
for a possible world
a new word
for this time that’s upon us
this brittle critical time
I am the bud and the blossom
I am the late-falling leaf
I am the arc fulfilled
I am the time come
come to the here
and the now
where we’re held
firm in the fire
of visions and longing
for what we were
and for all
that we are to be
here in our heart
at this moment eternal
even as
we gaze forlornly
across pooled hatred
through a divided curtain’s fall
at a fractured mirror’s reflection
a reflection of a waking nightmare
a glaring hallucination
of a polarized reality
dual worlds
close enough to touch
but too far apart to engage
dual worlds
through which truth
stumbles blind
beyond reach
or reason
no connection ’tween either
we walk as wraiths
through fevered empty streets
moving in these dual worlds
captive
to the bone-white lies
of both
mumbled
in the low voice
of dark deceit
implied in their toxic grins
of inflexible conformity
lethal tradition
revered in mindless trance
change
shackled to the instrument of fear
with grip rough as rope
change
bound at the shadowed edge
of dark and light
of plague and cure
of repression and justice
the edge of lethal ignorance
and profound knowledge
change
bruised
disillusioned
yet possible
but still seeking to flee
like a squandered teardrop
forever away from
our failing grasp
but hold fast
beckon the unfolding dawn
summon the emerging morn
herald the yellow-gold sunrise
there is far to go
and much to learn
rising from this dark night
but someone needs first
release the light
hold fast
perhaps torchbearers emerge
*
original publication: rob kistner © 02/18/21
revised publication © 04/07/23
Poetry at: dVerse
NOTE: This is the 4th and final edit of a piece I began writing on my 74th birthday, inspired by both my “Dual Worlds” piece. and my “Hold Fast” piece.
This poem has grandeur, messaging, hits like ‘time in flux’ as you described so well.
Gonna try to write something small this week Helen, something light and mirthful?
We really need to have people of light showing the way through the quagmire of division and negativity!
A powerful and well written poem my friend!
We surely do Dwight, yes we do my friend… 🙂
I like how your poem isn’t a catalogue of yellows, but a single emphatic yellow that contrasts so sharply with the looming darkness.
Thank you Jane. I purposely wanted there to be this yellow gold glimmer of hope because I believe thr possibility of a new sunrise exists — but it will require significant change. I also need yo believe in hope because I love my nine year old grandson — so I MUST believe.
What Jane said. I read knowing that it was for the prompt, and waiting for the yellow – and then suddenly, there it was, like the sun just creeping above the horizon! Very deftly done, and very moving.
Sarah. It is always darkest just before the yellow my friend… 😉
We need all the light we can get
Getting dark as hell in here. 😐
Such gorgeously deep and sensitive shades of yellow in this one, Rob!
It’s a piece I wrote about the state of the human in today’s world. I believe there is still hope that we achieve the possibility of hope —- but far far to go as a species. Of all the species of animals, even plants — we are the most out of balance with this amazing planet, and our arrogance of intelligence seems to block our simple logic. We have already been the source of extinction of many life forms, and we are well on the way to creating our own extinction. We are far more interested in creating gadgets of distraction, to avoid looking at the truth, and instruments of control and dominance, in order to flex and extend our lethal egos. I was willing to allow for a faint rising of a yellow good sunrise — but sadly even that may be the result of an increasingly polluted atmosphere. I fear once our house of cards begins to implode, the chain reaction may be deadly swift. Instead of creating more problems by trying to modify all the things we have caused that are causing the deadly situations — why don’t we stop with the gadgets of amusement and instruments of destruction, and divert that massive output of brain power and energy into feeding, housing, and healing the people of this planet… all the people, not just the fortunate few. Fear the people who are saying that is naive impossible thinking. They are one of the major cogs in the grinding wheel, and one of the most dangerous, because they don’t recognize the destructive impact of their apathy and resignation. The saddest reality is that many of the most capable do not wish to level the playing field, because their position of advantage improves their bottom line. They imbalance these groups embrace, is the other root cause of the larger problems. The reason I believe there is far far to go to climb out of this dark night, is that huge groups don’t feel it’s possible, therefore are resigned to it — and the manipulative percentage of the rest, don’t want things to change. Our only real hope is a change in the current nature of the vast majority of humanity. To quote Monty Python — we are all essentially “bozos on this bus”, and the bus is careening toward the edge of a cliff. Maybe our only real hope will be found among the survivors of humanity’s bus fall snd crash. Then, only if ee can prevent a “lord of the flies” occurrence. But to paraphrase Peggy Lee… if that’s all there is to humanity, then like so many already are, let’s just keep dancing. Break out the booze, the drugs, the games, the extravagances, and the weapons — and have a ball.