What Else

What else but
Love, loss and time
What else but the sweet sublime.

Paths that lead to sudden change
Forced upon us, bitter, strange

Courses failed and courses tried
Taken from us, almost pried

Chosen quest so sudden, halted
Choices made and dreams so faulted

Part my waters, give me leave
To move so swiftly, let me breathe

What else but
Truth, heart and soul

What else but
The journey’s toll

Subtle chance and perfect plans
A flight, a flutter from our hands.

Fate so wicked, fate so kind
Given us as faltered signs.

And must we worry
Must we wane
To chance a broken heart again?
To risk the rapture
Risk the joy
Plant the seed
for our heart’s employ?

Dare not seek for it shall appear
When blindness calls you
Tempers fear
Lest you seek to fill voids vast
Time will teach you
Surrender past.

1/18/04