Versions of Chai

To Andi on Halloween In the beginning My world was orange with hope, Full of clementine promise. Thoughts sunny, I delighted in dreams of blazing The globe as an agent of change, Bringing fare to the starving, Strewing blossoms for the depressed. But the crush of hours and Minutes made my world vulnerable To black numbers creeping in Dispatched from those in whom good Was long rotten from inactivity. Their mounting instances of greed Pounded and squeezed, churning my Best intentions to marmalade-- Sweet, but sluggish. I could not withstand the dark digits That pierced my resolve and Peeled back resistance to ravage The sun-kissed fruit within. A million onyx boots trod My world to pulp, until the Ground ran with the juice of dreams And only a citrus tang in the air Remained of what had been. Or so I thought as I drifted In black chaos of disillusionment For months on end. Then a light scored the gloom, Illuminating a single slice of hope Encasing a seed--small, but enough To awaken the...

Like an addict I barter for a little more sleep Missing the dawn Finally awake But trapped behind glass I watch a cloudless landscape roll by Afternoon is Locked in a curtained house Listening to voices drone Deprived the feel of breeze And the smell of leaves Freed at last Sunset has long faded Into Autumn night Unwatched Too few, too precious These waning sunny days To be squandered thus This is the last day The last day of sunshine I will waste