Heartache
Emerges unsummoned
From the subconscious
Takes up residence
Down low
In the stomach
Until
Nothing else matters
A simple question,
“What’s wrong?”
Brings a flood of tears
Washing away
Much of the ache
Leaving behind
Deep sorrow
Confusion, longing
©2017 Thomas W. Cummins
Tuft by tuft
Pulled by the cold night air
Like feathers, heat leaves our bedroom
On this winter’s night
Reaching down
A second blanket is found
Pulled up around the neck
Warmth enfolds, sleep returns
© 2017 Thomas W. Cummins
—∞—
At a certain age, I believe
I am standing at a trailhead
Stretching out under my feet
That final path curves out of sight
A hush surrounds
Slowly
I move forward
Uncertain, drawn
Pushed?
Or at the end of a hallway
Long empty walls
No color
No windows
No sound
But echoes poised
My own footsteps
My own breath
For now
Perhaps on a dark desert road
Nothing visible
Beyond the headlights’ arc
No trees
No roadside brush
No stars
Behind, total darkness
Ahead on the horizon a faint glow
Out of reach
Recent health issues
Found me fearful
Anxious
A sense of giving up
Complete surrender
Grudging acceptance
Not of my choosing
Alone
Very alone
It’s not that I’m afraid, per se
What’s next is not of my concern
But I am fearful, sometimes,
About persistent loss, now
Unresolved issues, now
A legacy of being misunderstood
Misunderstood to the point of
Not being loved, honored
Respectfully remembered
Time is running out
Not much to be done
Yet things have become undone
Time is running out
Loved ones unseen
Growing older
Old memories fading
New memories deferred
Or irredeemably lost
© 2014 Thomas W. Cummins
I wish, somehow, there was a way to put up sandbags against today’s flood of sadness
But through God’s grace, I know things will get better
Patience
Acceptance
Finding sustenance for my spiritual roots
To not get pulled down, dragged down, diminished by the careless behavior of others
My best friend is with me
Everything will be okay
We’ll get through this
Gentleness, kindness, understanding and forgiveness will prevail
Surrendering to the power of Wisdom
Perhaps letting go
—∞—
Throwing a pattern© 2014 Thomas W. Cummins
Sometimes as the storm rages about us, it is necessary to step back … and wait … and content ourselves with just being a lightning rod. And to remember that the lightning rod isn’t causing the lightning, nor the lightning the storm.
So one waits for a pause, for a patch of clear sky to appear, a glimpse of the sun obscured for so long.
In a dim light... 
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