you call my
name & i don't
recognize my
self.
my young,
naked body is
escaping into the
shadows.
i love that
image & i
mourn its
loss.
imagine an
exhausted man, nearly
drowned, swimming
in sight of distant
island.
every instant is a
decision to go
on.
with each
stroke he
ages.
his skin
stretches, his
muscles sag, his
bones turn
frail.
he breaches the
surf & reaches the
beach before becoming
unconscious.
upon waking, he
kisses the sand in
amazement &
blesses the
sky.
he breathes as if
for the first
time & congratulates
his self for
defeating his
fate.
he remembers his
love & his friends &
dreams of home & of
wealth & power.
but these are gone
along with his
youth.
startled, his
third eye opens &
his heart
expands––
a million suns
glinting on the
gleaming
sea.