HOSTAGE

Hostage

Between the gray of the morning
and the gray of the evening,
I took a hostage.
After the confrontation
and before the reunion,
I took a hostage.
When the world revealed itself
to be a desert at twilight,
I took a hostage.
Shortly after a cold cup of coffee
with Old Scratch himself,
I took a hostage.

Now my hostage tells me that she’s leaving.
Now my hostage tells me that I never loved her.
Now my hostage tells me that I have never loved anyone,
and that includes myself.

Now my hostage tells me that she needs more than this.
Now my hostage tells me that there is more than this.
Now my hostage tells me she has to leave to find it,
and I can’t come along.

Now, my hostage tells me, is what there is in this weary world.
Now, my hostage tells me, is all there is besides cold darkness.
Now, my hostage tells me, is everything next to our lives together,
and I know she’s right.


Between the empty promise
and the stubborn frown,
I freed a hostage.
After all I did for her,
and before she truly hurt me,
I freed a hostage.
When I began to realize
that I would never read all these books,
I freed a hostage.
In the middle of
my hundredth reading of Dr. Faustus,
I freed a hostage.

One down, one to go………………………………………