Darkness Visible

By Joan Lennon

Looking at

you looking at

it

the stance says it all

that slight leaning forward

the way your front foot begins to slide

the way the stripes creep over your shoulders

ready to head past your head

all strangely quiet

not a sucking sound to be heard

or are there no other senses left

just sight

just watching

the disappearing of light

into

the patient symmetry of the circle

 

looking at

you looking at

it

me tourist to you

who are tourist to

the road to hell’s

black hole

not noticing

the traffic is one way

 

me noticing

you not noticing

me not noticing

the gravity of our situation.