POETRY: Arrival

So, here you are.

At last.

Standing, staring, supplicating—

In front of this shell.

This crumbled confusion

You’d built so hopefully

Block by block.

Ghosts flit past these ruins

Shreds of recollection

Voices you strain to almost hear

(jeer)

(fear)

Before they disperse on the wind.

You grasp it, now.

It took you awhile.

To finally stop,

And look,

And really see

How everything fell apart

While you kept on.

You gather yourself

To yourself.

Shoulders settling back, and down

As you lift your chin

And survey this site

Of devastation.

Every block a glimpse from another time.

Another universe, perhaps.

Devolving from

Love

Trust

Honesty

Patience

Forgiveness

Into

Fear  . . .

Doubt . . .

Disregard . . .

Concealment . . .

Self-sacrifice . . .

They lie in the grass where they fell.

A beautiful mess of random shapes

Each unique, and telling.

Sighing deeply

You notice, finally

Incredulous—

Humbled—

How these never fit together

Properly

In the first place.

And, so.

It is time to decide.

To hold yourself close.

The courage lies in the choice.

Take only what you need

For a stronger, sturdier foundation.

Select carefully.

And whatever you do,

Choose courage.

Build it again.

Deliberately.

Differently.

Then, look to the sky, and remember

That everything that is good and right

Comes from the dwelling built strong and true

For yourself.

First and always.