Anticipation

Like the watched pot that
Finally boils, the bubbling of
Unrestrained joy rises inside
Making me flush with the heat of
This erupting geyser. A dream
That has no awakening to call
This cinematic spectacle to end,
As a lethargy of contentment
Buries my ability to focus on
Anything of substance but the
Promise that the dawning day
Of tomorrow will bring the hope
Of happiness foreshadowed, pure
Elation of justice finally delivered
Where it is long overdue, the gift
So long desired finally given over
To accepting hands. The sun shall
Rise and, before it has set, the
Wonder and wishing will have
Withdrawn into the new reality
Made of our own choosing.
The challenge to endure and
To persevere has been answered,
Successfully navigating the first leg
Of the long journey on which we
Embarked with wide-eyed innocence
When even that single task, now laid
To rest, seemed so very daunting.
So close now we are there, and the
Anticipation that has labored long
Upon us has been repaid in full
With the smiles of a new serenity.
The shadow disappears, the image
Is made whole in unclouded vision.

-Dakin 8/27/09

Memory

Numbers tumble in my
Thoughts, the pen scratches
Another mark across the
Box before me, resigning
The passage of another day
To its burrow, never to be
Visited again. Yet, that
Singular metaphor captured
On the glossy page among
Thirty plus others, a photo
Of stunning natural wonder
Capping them all, pinned
Eye-level on the wall, keeps
For me another layer of
Life images spent in the
Security of life’s company.
Together we conquered the
Alien beast that beset us,
Finishing our fight that we
Had before left for another
Day, which in turn, became
Yesterday. And the peace
That now envelops the
Burning ache that has become,
Of late, too familiar, directs
My focus to another number
Nestled not far from that
Of today. The box for
Which all these others
Stand row upon row,
Leading up in an unbroken
Line to the driven destiny
Of a date long looked for,
Bringing together the sum
Of these past many days,
Making you, for tomorrow
And for all time to come,
My living Memory.

-Dakin 8/14/09

Horizon

The burden weighing on
My stooped shoulders,
Manages me, measures
My responses to the global
Crises culled from Earth’s
Corners, canned in these
Processed clips my eyes
Scan each morning on
The screen from which I get
My daily dose of the world’s
Dearth and drama, reduced
To digestible portions so that
Once consumed we can all
Go quietly about the rest of
Our better business. The
Truth is, that while the
Suffering of billions of
Souls surrounds our own
Sheltered solitude, we stand
So often rooted in our own
Righteous indignation,
Incensed at the injustice,
Yet unable to respond in
Any more active of manner.
Realizing my limited scope
Of vision, bordering perhaps
On the xenophobic, though
Unintentionally, I crave
For my own part, a more solid
Meal, seeking to see through
The eyes of a host of others
Outside my usual universe
To acquire a more perfect
Understanding of this
Life and how to live it.

-Dakin 8/7/09