TempoRare

Look away, we are told ; it’s a briefly-lit candle,
Though He sends not a grief that the weakest can’t handle.
On we fret and we sweat ; spend an hour on the stage
As the dying of light brings a smoldering rage.

We are closest to some who reject us outright
Then the silence ensues, and the hope fades from sight.
So we bury ourselves in pursuit of our ‘calling’
‘Till the severance comes, and we’re falling… we’re falling…

We’ve waited since the start of time
Or at least since what we know as years;
It all seems permanent at different times.
The family. The work. The sense of place and duty.

Some clamp themselves to these things,
Thinking the meaning will be found in them.
Others turn away and find places of isolation.
Turn the search inward. Shut out the complications.

The truth is, we will never know – in this life.
We’re reminded by events, but still we look away.
Scared of what we think we’ll learn,
And we carry on; smiles on our faces.

In my lifetime ; a puking infant
When Buddy’s plane went down.
The trajectory of that flight
A cruel inverse of his meteoric fame.

Hang on: meteors fall as well.
And I imagine Him, one day, bored of our meddling,
Diverting the path of one
To call time on our foolish game.

The scientists will know it’s about to happen
And will vie for airtime on Newsnight.
Giving us enough time to consider the temporal and the eternal.
But by then it may not make any difference.

A bit like the ‘malefactors’ crucified with Jesus.
Having time to ponder eternity, beg forgiveness, chat options.
At least one of them got the nod.
Our faith should carry us off our crosses.

But to what? Faith and belief bring a heavy load,
But still less a burden than someone else’s expectations.
Someone once said, ‘Hell is other people.’
No need for the burning lake, the River Styx.

I’m lost in the crowd every time I get off the train.
Lonely as hell; lonely in a crowd.
The blank faces, the silent marching.
The indifference. Isolation.

When the towers fell,
More or less all that was left was grey dust.
Remember that: the swirling clouds
Pursuing survivors, racing uptown.

Look away, if you know: all you see will be gone.
Face your choices, say a prayer, but for God’s sake: get on.