FINDING OUR WAY

1
I look at most faces reverently.
Some look back
the same way.
But the eyes of others
are sad. They say, “I don’t know,”
and I am sorry for them.
Some see my hand or my face
and think I know it all. I just want
to help a little.

2
There is little sleep
for us tonight, all the outposts
have no lights to guide us.
The nightblindness
will keep our caravan moving,
but we won’t be able
to track our progress until morning comes.

3
There’s something not right here.
It’s not cold, but still…not right.
Matchsticks instead of mountains—and,
even now, they’re burned to their ends.
But the smoke says, “In time,
things will be different, I promise.”

(16 June 2007)