Stand

Rose petals fell before us Hands slid into each Evening’s intermittent rays Twinkled out a desperate reach. We took those steps together Blessed by day and holy night With gratitude for measured feelings; Endless love or injured flight Fortunate ones allowed to share A moment, or perhaps a pair. And when the moment came; It came for you. No worthy breath bestowed Or made anew. Through curtain raised Dawn became so still No pulse of time to feel For us until: Senses stretched to yearning As day to night entwine Master's hand to each entreats, Our time, from fruit of vine. Sweet time, forever sweet Whose endless touch we wear, Breath as proof of life each soul to bear. So Brief the hour given hearts to care. Shapes mistaken in our form The instruments we carry Breath no less than sunless storm, Teach life, to never tarry. Mindless monks and fruitless sisters Bargainers with tongues in blisters Salesmen, pitchers, burdened ditchers Promising a truth so coarse; Cowards, Watching all of this, without remorse. Stand. And we all stood. Fast, with only bad and good between, Prayers shaped With words we could not sell, Looking back to where we could have been Stepped one by one off precipice; And fell.