morning after...

if the morning was abrupt,
the night may as well lasted forever;
we learn to solicit smooth transitions,
one to another,
like two people exchanging hands,
expecting warmth…

but the sun arrives without warning and jars us
into unwilled consciousness;
facing the mirror and the reflections of lies,
do we dare reach for the promise
that led us through the night?
in a steady pause of reflection,
yearning, do we continue to search days for
a reason to continue
this unwed sequence of dreams?
in our eyes, we betray truth
and see what we can…

in our eyes, there is you and me,
waiting for the words to say what we think we feel,
reaching through the curtain of confusion
for the moment of peace…
drawing away from expectations, the
judgments—closing out doubt until dawn…

there is nothing beyond the moment;
it is ours forever. no one can steal it away and
nail it high unless we allow it…
as the smoke curls around my fingers,
i linger longer and remember;
grateful to have been there with you at least once…
before the sun came to drag me
away by my heels…

morning after...soliloquies
ja allen