— it was the best of times
it was the worst of times —

history’s voice carried on paper wings
shouts echoed from yellowed pages
words thoughts freely become
simple phrases following one behind the other
a tale from times past
within my heart they scream
an unrelated story relating my own truth
expressions of heartfelt longing
these aches they bind my soul
what truth spoken to me now
by mine eyes beheld
expressing emotions ancient and new
what craft is this that bewitches me
how comes it then that this book can so apply
my spirit’s little giant has forsaken me
alone together we two
these phrases my world herein exists
such truth as may be found betwixt the bindings
my friend and my brother
what has been lost
surely the best of times
that it is lost
surely the worst of times

[circa 1986; because it’s been on my mind lately]