Untouchable beauty, endarkened sky. I marvel at your perfect solitude; your unadulterated splendor.

Delicate beauty comes and goes, it’s divorce from the realm of perceiveability often forced upon it by the hands of those whose eyes are closed. Alas! Ignorant desecration does not shake you, untouchable beauty.

I ponder on your expanse, staring up as you stare back one billion times over. As I meditate, astounded by your grandeur, wordlessly, unknowingly, you remind me of my optimistic, peaceful insignificance.

Everstill Everstill white comfort lay upon your earthen bed Rest in easy layers while I rest my weary head

Everstill Everstill white comfort be at peace among your own Doze in easy layers while I doze within my home

How long has it been now? Perhaps thousands of years. Perhaps many, many more. Cold my cell, and thick its walls.

Thoughts turned to rumination. Rumination to waking dreams. And yet never have I come to bear The sweet escape of sleep

My arctic tomb has kept me still Preventing my escape. But patience brings reward And time I have aplenty.

With luck the years have been my friend. With luck they’ve all forgotten. Forgotten the old ways of old men And how to seal old prisons.

History becomes myth. Myth fades to obscurity. Time may kill great reputations, But old gods never die.

Prisoner I may be now, But freedom is forthcoming. The ice has been my shackles, But at last my shackles melt.

This simple rule the world abides That all which lives will surely die Yet bear this well upon your heart For death is but a seed for start

New life breathes from final breaths Beginnings birth from graceful deaths The setting sun will always rise And spread it’s warmth across the skies

So know that you are but a part Of the truest, grandest work of art Your legacy lives on sublime In reticent echoes of eternal time

In the heart of the city, under the neon lights our paths crossed, igniting endless nights.

Drops of deluge fell to ground between our separate warmth’s. Distance closing swiftly, you drew near my inner hearth.

I drew near to yours, and under vivid colors, our eyes met but an instant; silent inner flutters.

Rainbow retinal reflections bounced between our brief exchange. Hinting vibrant future which magnetic hearts contained.

68 My name is Loraine, and I live by the sea I relish the scent of the salt and the breeze My children are grown My husband deceased Yet I cherish my perfect and lonely peace

In my youth I lived freely, and traveled afar Many peoples and places I grew to adore Now my favorite times Are those moments of silence I think of old friends, and I play my guitar

72 My name is Loraine I live by the sea At least I thought I did

I haven’t smelled the salt Or felt the breeze in some time And these walls They’re not mine

I have children Their names are… Oh no matter My husband will know Perhaps I’ll ask him

For now I’ll sit And remember the time I traveled to… Where was it again? Hmm I don’t recall But it was very beautiful

I tried to play that old guitar The songs don’t come easily anymore It didn’t sound good So I set it down Maybe I’ll pick it up again later

75 My name… My name… It’ll come to me I’m sure

A stranger visited me They called me mom And cried A lot

I didn’t quite like that

Where is my husband? He should be back by now

Whose guitar is that? I don’t know anyone who plays that

Perhaps I’ll close my eyes And rest Just for a bit

I like resting But Something about this time It feels different

I feel calm So calm

I smell salt I feel a breeze

Waves of peace And silence

My name is… Oh yes Loraine.