(Ch. 1: Confusion)

Black edged among the grass, lingered at
the shore and dripped into the lake. Each
star flared in despair, tiny and out of reach.

(Ch. 2: Illusions)

They fell across the sky like spilled dry bleach
on slate tiled counter tops, insignificant to darkness.
Deepest hour of night, the last stand to impress

(Ch. 3: Life)

the dawn, hung over the impasse. Ageless
minutes taunted the water, full of forgetful
fancies. Time, naked in the night, never regretful

(Ch. 4 : Knowledge)

of its hubris and hate, harbored fretful
fantasies of forever. It whispered tales
to pussy willows and danced in gales

(Ch. 5: Love)

Whipping over the lake. Silver sails
of clouds stripped the water to a shiver.
Black waves lolled into a quiver

(Ch. 6: Desire)

of song, the processional chords to deliver
the remorseless foe, daylight. In that
moment of pink flush, entered the dawn.