I am utterly transformed
I can never again see with false eyes
I have abandoned many fears
Never again can I commit tyranny
unable to slay a foe without mercy
still a warrior, dedicated practiced
Once, my armor gleamed in the sun
now, it is bloodstained, tarnished with use
a hero’s pay is his next adventure
As I sit atop the lower falls, and
waking dream what now I see
remembering how this came to be
Observe not one, but many parts
not one singularity exists,
trunks turn out branches bearing leaves
which nestle insects or yield to mites
though some call it chaos mistakenly
I now see the forest for the trees
fragmented phenomena, often
incorrectly imputed as one object
How can it exist but in name?
Dependent relationships
making us dependent people,
striving for independence from
everyone but our own false self
Not anymore
Now when I feel autumn stretch her
roots into August mornings, shrinking daylight
when I feel her come in on the breeze
I know the tears that fall are but
impressions of the misdeeds long past done
just re-emerging memories unsettled in
summer’s dry heat, like dust
Now, clarity.