From the world that’s all around me
Turned my eye to look within
And find the source that drives me
It wasn’t long before I found
A crack in my demeanor
A harrowing
Of imperfection
A way in which I’m broken
Many ways I dwelled on it
The fault line in my being
Looked at it from all sides
And even tried to fill it
But there it was
A crack in me
Eventually accepted
And once I did
I began to see
It wasn’t the exception
A multitude of cracks appeared
It was really quite disturbing
Some deep and dark
Whose depths I’d plumb
And find that there’s no bottom
It really was a frightening year
Of darkfull self-reflection
Finding all the cracks in me
Seeing through the self-deception
But in time I began to see
The cracks within
Held deep beauty
Just like the lines
That crease the eyes
Of the lovers I now see
The creamy skin of youth
No longer stirs desire
I long to trace the furrowed lines
Of lovers who’ve lived longer
It’s their experience
It’s their stolid stance
It’s their winnowing of fruit from chaff
It’s their insight and their learning
It’s their wisdom gained from failing
All of this is etched in flesh
Of uncommon beauty
So looking now
So deep within
I see my cracks more truly
Nevada, United States of America
Taken during travels, 2009