The Second Night
By Peter Scott
They told her to love the world
Proved why society was just
The sinking feeling lingered
Still
Creating ripples of painful lust
In the lust were contradictions
From the contradictions sprang revelations
Realization that the brew was mixed
Laced with herbs dark as sky
Stretched over her round sphere
Covering plans made
Hopes decimated
First she must love herself
Which she could not
There was no purpose from it all
Reason so minor to move an eye
Yet she did just that
Peered across attempts at happiness
Gazed at that picture
Near all the others each
With their meaningful asterisk
None before were like that photograph
Her heart wept for the embrace
His lips
So distinct
And memories yet taken
Always he promised to be there
Help in times of need
Remembering that
Moon vacant
Lifeless in every extremity
Save one
The melody played on
While she danced with the silent partner
On the wall
Lulling softly
Her feet shuffled slowly
In tune to the mind
Drifting through the land where
They were finally alone
Together with the sequoias
Their place when the lights went cold.
