Each One a Jewel

This evening I sit in solitude the dark sky of night lays sprawled before me drawing me towards reflections of all I can remember deeds I have done, deeds others have done for me whether the guiding hand of a mentor teaching me what I needed to know or the friend who asked if I needed help part-time lovers who gave sanctuary from shadowed loneliness the hurried finality of those passing through sharing opened arms without gratuity seeking a smile as payment each one a jewel which hangs in memory the world turns every spin is filled with footprints and voices tracks and echos hiding in the quiet giving pause to recollections, from long ago yes, the sky is dark yet filled with a million stars from yesterday when help was given without being asked 9/15/21 contest Islands in the Stream sponsor Craig Cornish