October 17-24, 2025

late on an autumn evening

early words being re-read

so many speaking of a dark

unnamed until decades died

scary words, words like

loneliness

hopelessness

sadness

grief

amazed at their frequency

I’d never known I was being tempted to die

even as I struggled to enjoy being alive

rejoicing that I stand where I am

it was surprising to finally see

how this dark, so recently given its name

had thrown its tendrils back into my childhood

relieved that from two years ago June

they have been predominately absent