absinthe

and who knows of what we have trusted with one another
as the flame lights faces aglow
we begin to speak of the mysteries that plague us
the inner emotions locked in the recesses of our minds
and wonder with curious eyes
of the darkest depths we've fallen
as our hearts sank til our feet touched ground
until the self is a barren plain
and phantoms of emotion sweep the darkened dust of prairies long since infertile
the harsh winds of time thicken our skins
while the stars hang above us
like nightlights in our childhood bedrooms, beckoning us to sleep
but still we struggle to stay awake, echoing the recollected words of poets past
"miles to go before home" we whispered, counting down as the snowflakes began to fall
and in the holding of our hands we grasp life
for it is through each other that we develope our strength and thicken our skins
though still not without the memory
of the lighter days of summer,
remembering our youth in the familiar streets of our neighborhoods
seeing our conjoined lives from above, viewing the serene simplicity in our absorbing affection
as the sun shines through reminiscent scenes
we view ourselves on projectile screens
only barely recognizing the ghosts of laughter now sweeping this dusty plain
and although we may truly always be alone
for now the warmth of a smile bestows safety
unknowingly, we have weaned ourselves from reality
and slipped into the crevices of wonder
our only downfall our relentless searching
our only hope the promise of the future