A day in passing sneers at me,
And time slips through my hands.
My longing lingers round my soul
In lonely, choking bands.

Imagine freedom in a kiss,
Deliverance from loss;
Now see it held beyond your reach,
And never meet the cost.

The world in shades of misery
Demands our weeping groans,
As healing works invisibly
Through suffering's odd koans.

My love, to see your tears be shed
Electrifies my soul;
My charge is made: to hold you close
and thrive in love made whole.

The body falls and toils in welts,
Affliction, and in pain,
But how your love applies a salve
That strengthens me again!

There is a building on a road,
A gate to toll the passersthrough,
That's been abandoned for a few
Good years now; all the stiles are closed.

A monolith of stone that's crowned
With blinking lights in dozens sits
Upon its highway lanes, admits
No use of road, since built around.

An express lane became the one
Lane once technology caught up
With speed; it lies inside a cup
Of phantom lanes, of passage done.

The tolls enforced by cameras now
Have obviated booths, and so
The flashing lights that once meant slow
Rebound and now mean speed around.

Upon these expediting lanes
A curve of candles lights the pass,
Illuminating trees and grass
For once along night's shadowed plane.

Fluorescent sentries flank the street,
A glimpse of forest mystery
is visible in whispery
Night. Then once more just road concrete.

The mirrors in their corners glow,
Periphery becomes a lens
Of warming orange light, descends,
Transforms, a singe before it goes.