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Dana Point
Facing the darkness which never melts
into the dawn of a new day,
when the gnawing realization
of mortality gripped my soul
like the horrified insatiable gasping
of lungs immersed in cold silent ocean depths,
you held my limp body
dripping with the tears of life feared wasted
on the trivial demands of a mechanistic world
and consoled my heart of despair
as my once proud rationality fractured
into the murky netherworld
of soul consuming depression.
The friend you once knew,
dissolved into those tears which flowed
in torrents down my leather jacket
into your soft blouse
where they became part of you
and with them went my eternal love.
In the death throes of my former self
you were alienated
by my transformation
from the friend you knew
to the friend you never welcomed back.
You have my tears.
They are all you remember.
They weigh on your soul,
late at night,
in those dreams I know you have.
Let my loving embrace
take them away from you.
The moment of terror has passed
like a cocoon passes
and storms punctuate the placid beauty
of blue skies adorned with white clouds
and gliders creak and moan
in the violent updrafts
which keep them afloat
and enable the flowing joy
of moments adrift
in the beautiful world
that only darkness can illuminate.
The sun shines while darkness retreats
into the shade of palm leaves
beyond the beach
where we held each other
where you promised always
to be my friend.
The sea shells heard your promise.
The sand awaits your return.
I miss you, free spirit,
with your flaxen hair, blue eyes,
and heart of gold.
Stephen R. DeVoy
February 2, 1993 - San Diego
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