De-Nile
Denial's not a goodly term
For deep inside I twist and squirm;
Eat candy meant for Halloween
(If I'm alright – what's this I've seen?)It's more a lull before the storm –
When shock's all gone, effect’s outworn;
Before I could see naught at all
A circuit breaker clicked out all.But now my life quite normal seems,
Just like before – like there's not been
A spot of hell on my front porch,
When light dimmed down to flickering torch.So, all except that loss, I see;
I gather strength, draw close to me
The things, and people, friend, and kin;
And hunker down for storm we're in.Like hurricane just off the shore,
Which, whirling, hurtles towards our door;
We take in stores, board up the house,
Pull into shelter like a mouse.For soon will lift that numbness too
And covered-loss will come to view;
Not fully, with finality,
For that's too much for us to see.No – maybe loss we'll skirt around,
Or minimize, so cost that's found
In end to be far less than all
Will let us move on through this fall.So sky is blue and the vine is red;
I am alive, and clear my head;
Tasks to do, and maintenance,
Here beneath God's countenance.Shift to second half of life
For myself, now for my wife,
Is a shocker – so much loss –
Catching up of former costs.But our losses ease our load;
No more, “How do pen I hold?”
“How to swim?” or “Drive a truck?”
“Find a wife?” “Get out of muck?”Freed up to important things,
Age and loss new lightness brings;
Each day's now a holiday –
Holy-day – we'll find a way.navigation