Brigit's Flame, November, week #1
Title: Driving Through Dark
Author: keppiehed
Word Count: 440
Prompt: “To be Announced”
A/N: Written for week #1 at brigits_flame.
I am driving through dark, fallen quick with new time
when those headlights they start in to shimmer.
Shadows ghost on the road, only signs of life here
are the peekaboo eyes of the critters.
A song comes on now, with its pounding fast beat,
some long drone in a simile for wings.
It must be shut off, this distracting refrain.
Then the silence, instead, well ... it sings.
My hands are quite cold as I sit all alone,
but not from the winter night air.
Nor is it the prick of the light of the stars
shining down from their lonely space spare.
The chillest of breezes was Certainty, sudden,
as she laid down to whisper to me
what in youth I had known with the surest of hearts
was now just a great mystery.
In childhood I must have looked at my life,
veiled before my eyes as with a curtain.
Adventures! I'd thought. I would live to see fun
and all manner of futures uncertain.
Everything under the sun would be mine,
It was but for me to take with two hands.
What was yet to come, what was yet unannounced:
My ability, unrestrained ... grand.
Yet somewhere through years this all slipped out of place
as the living took stock of my dreams.
Hopes curl into smoke, fade away, turn to ash
And the days rip apart at the seams.
It was not always thus, but the memory dims
of a time possibility reigned.
Today and tonight, every day from now on
All the feelings are painted on, feigned.
If I'd had a crystal ball long years ago,
I'd have smiled to see myself now.
I'd have loved how I turned out so pretty, so trim,
But I wouldn't have guessed at the hollow.
Who can know what Despair clothes itself in? Not me.
I'd have thought to have checked in the smile.
Or the nod of the head, or the words or the deeds,
Only eyes are wiped free of such guile.
My younger self would have been quite pleased to see
How I've gotten along in this world.
I'd have blinked to have shielded the truth that I know
I would want my flag fully unfurled.
For how can one hope to destroy the unknown?
It 's the most precious gift that we own.
Not knowing what's ever ahead, just behind.
It has saved me at every turn.
It's time to leave here, I've been lost in the dark
for longer than I care to roam.
Switch the radio on, turn the car back around,
Thoughts are fine, but it's time to drive home.
Author: keppiehed
Word Count: 440
Prompt: “To be Announced”
A/N: Written for week #1 at brigits_flame.
I am driving through dark, fallen quick with new time
when those headlights they start in to shimmer.
Shadows ghost on the road, only signs of life here
are the peekaboo eyes of the critters.
A song comes on now, with its pounding fast beat,
some long drone in a simile for wings.
It must be shut off, this distracting refrain.
Then the silence, instead, well ... it sings.
My hands are quite cold as I sit all alone,
but not from the winter night air.
Nor is it the prick of the light of the stars
shining down from their lonely space spare.
The chillest of breezes was Certainty, sudden,
as she laid down to whisper to me
what in youth I had known with the surest of hearts
was now just a great mystery.
In childhood I must have looked at my life,
veiled before my eyes as with a curtain.
Adventures! I'd thought. I would live to see fun
and all manner of futures uncertain.
Everything under the sun would be mine,
It was but for me to take with two hands.
What was yet to come, what was yet unannounced:
My ability, unrestrained ... grand.
Yet somewhere through years this all slipped out of place
as the living took stock of my dreams.
Hopes curl into smoke, fade away, turn to ash
And the days rip apart at the seams.
It was not always thus, but the memory dims
of a time possibility reigned.
Today and tonight, every day from now on
All the feelings are painted on, feigned.
If I'd had a crystal ball long years ago,
I'd have smiled to see myself now.
I'd have loved how I turned out so pretty, so trim,
But I wouldn't have guessed at the hollow.
Who can know what Despair clothes itself in? Not me.
I'd have thought to have checked in the smile.
Or the nod of the head, or the words or the deeds,
Only eyes are wiped free of such guile.
My younger self would have been quite pleased to see
How I've gotten along in this world.
I'd have blinked to have shielded the truth that I know
I would want my flag fully unfurled.
For how can one hope to destroy the unknown?
It 's the most precious gift that we own.
Not knowing what's ever ahead, just behind.
It has saved me at every turn.
It's time to leave here, I've been lost in the dark
for longer than I care to roam.
Switch the radio on, turn the car back around,
Thoughts are fine, but it's time to drive home.