and here

Amidst these rocky days with crackling air

threatened by the looming dark sky

the sun came out ironically 

yesterday and glorious crisp air

briefly heartened by a mirage

of bright autumn vibrance 

I looked from my window

as a thousand days before

my eyes drawn to two butterflies

sipping at the posies of Abelia

wobbly in their fluttering

migration has been a beating

we will all be wobbly now

I wonder when late autumn chill

has depleted what remains

of the blooming in the garden

will the glory return with the spring 

or give up and remain buried deep beneath

I kept myself to myself

because I could not process 

what was happening within

stunned by dread of what

would now become

in a world that has spun away

sleep hid far from me

until the wee morning hours

my head is filled with boulders

my whole self longs to crawl back under

I am here 

preparing to face the world 

there’s not much choice

other than giving up the fight

my spirit is heavy my soul stressed 

I will move through the bleak thick gray

threatening my hopes and ideals 

I swear my light will shine

I promise to seek the stars

Sally A. Kilgore

7 November 2024