Until We Were Blind To the Stars

Day joined to expired day, 
nights lost to darkest night. 

Another year has defected 
to the phalanx arrayed against us, 
their iron hooves now thundering, 
their sheer number mocking
our plundered ranks. 

Do we then muffle our laughter,
and await the slaughter?
Do we extend our wrists,
by the flood of years barnacled,
offer them to the tides to be manacled?  

But no, we shall not forfeit the coming dawns,
nor grovel before time’s ghastly taunts.   
Let us thumb our noses at these turncoat hours, 
so their cackles shall forever be jarred by our song,  
their armors singed by our bonfires,  
and their bloating flesh branded with our footprints!   

Let us empty ourselves into tomorrow  
until we’ve drained our marrow, 
so that the moons shall remember
that one sepia heartbeat in time
when we rose to the smiting hand, 
again and again, 
until we were deaf 
to our hearts’ murmurs 
and blind to the stars.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2017

Poem

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Noble Ayi Avatar
January 6, 2018 at 3:21 AM
Wow. Great piece. Keep it up.
Chan Avatar
January 6, 2018 at 6:36 AM
Many thanks, Derek. Appreciated.
Krampe Avatar
December 24, 2017 at 3:07 PM
I love the imagery you use to describe the inevitable passing of time. So glad you commented on my poem because it led me to find your work.
Chan Avatar
December 24, 2017 at 7:08 PM
Thank you, Agnes. Warmest wishes!
Downing  Avatar
December 22, 2017 at 11:43 AM
Great write and made me wonder! Hugs and smiles :)
Chan Avatar
December 22, 2017 at 7:45 PM
Thank you so much, Akkina, for your visit and lovely comment! Warmest wishes :)
Pigeon Tart Avatar
December 22, 2017 at 10:43 AM
A stirring pen. I'm not sure how it makes me feel: poetic excellence. xomo :)
Chan Avatar
December 22, 2017 at 7:39 PM
Knowing what you can do with your pen and just a few words, if this little write leaves you undecided as to how you feel, I must have done something right :) Thanks a lot for the lovely comment, Maureen. Warmest wishes :))
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