A Moment in Twilight:

Every journey must pause A mourning moment for the day we've lost
We stare back, shift gazes to the days that made us Staring longingly at how long we last mapped a lap Lulling on as the sun drifts between clouds, sweat cools softened brows

Standing tall on mountains we remember climbing See ourselves reflected even in distant ponds children once mucked through Or perhaps in the skies, peaking our eyes past horizons mystified by virtues we once knew

Rest our aching trembling limbs and ask ourselves if we'd dare to walk again Deep, safe in winding valley vistas Or catching our hastening breath from altitudes Only moments of respite from what might loom, that which once chased us

Muscles bulge or sag From days that that race or drag A forged path to learn or forget Carving only footsteps to be remembered Crusted mud covers tussled scars In these reflections we are Frozen, as we are To question weather tired eyes resembled where we thought we were going Take respite, indulge our vices Would we recognize the plucky plunderer first awakening from slumber Taken under by sacrificing conundrums

Have we shaken the hum-drumming Escaped the buzzing, still left running from it? Satisfied by the accumulated paces Dismal, discontented, with the abysmal distance we have barely begun to graze? Proud to have dodged barrages of marauding mirages Counting souvenir blessings Settled campfires draped by kindled dressings Taking refuge from leering fears Averting gazes from the leering smoke stoked by dancing embers

Will we come to know ourselves tomorrow Or pretend through weeks of deluded cloudy views Lonely with only our minds as guides Grateful for quiet peace of mind Proud or humbled By how we skated or stumbled Gloating gains or cursing fumbles Can we rest or must morning bring more tests Gentle winds begging questions only answered in the faded constellations But for now in final conscious moments can we be washed over by oceans of quiet contemplation