Alone

“I raised my head. The offing was barred by a black bank of clouds, and the tranquil waterway leading to the uttermost ends of the earth flowed somber under an overcast sky — seemed to lead into the heart of an immense darkness.”
–Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness
 
 
 
Tonight
The stars are spurious,
Lights out of sync with the hours
That slip through my momentous hands:
Derelict.

The darkness.
Perfect moments hide their ambitions,
wipe away the connections
between breath and life;
final

taken from me . . .
I decided, only, to walk this valley
Enfolded within these dawning ruminations
Without seeing . . .

“That sliver of moon broke through.”
Hope smiles out from imperfect guises.
And I recall now
fate’s every

Glittering
ripple.