I walk darkly in this spot, mutely, unmeasured, only the energy of this one thought, how to be brave? are we all cowards? passing darkly amongst each other? I deflect you, you deflect me, hidden against the blank wall, while the night drenches our rationed footsteps

and then, there, drifting up out of our now, a thunderous rumble, a portentous clap, a roll of percussion, a breath, a tah-tah, goodbye is always both a rupture and a transformation

I walk darkly on this mute spot, I brush some molecule, transfer a bit of heat, I hear and I know the indelibility of temporariness, the ephemeral nature of permanence, I witness it in the brick walls of our castles, the steel beams of our bridges, the scandals of our front pages, the murders of our children

one tower comes down, and then the next, the best magician leaves a space open, a hanging spot, while we dangle, while we conjecture

maybe it makes sense to the youth, maybe I should sit back, and trust them?