First posted on August 5th. I am grateful to Mae Foreman for providing the awesome reading.

 

 

A sentence begins with a word 

or a condemnation of action 

capitals and gavels quickly fall 

emotions follow swift in step 

as bailiff's impassive approach 

begins a period of deep reflection

 

Narcissus gazed at water’s reflection 

unable to hear any Echo of Nemesis’ word 

unable to accept any lover's approach

as arms became petals no action 

was taken and so step by step 

legs became roots, body stems,  and petals did fall

 

Time for dread Persephone to return, it is fall 

and if small pomegranate seed did not sit in reflection

upon her tongue  no more upon her step 

would a dead man nor Immortal whisper the word

“welcome” as she would not leave and no action, 

choice or trick  hers to calm his approach

 

“Come closer,” you softly whispered at my approach

“I want to fall in love and in love fall 

next to you, each new thought an action 

until our bodies breathe body breath without reflection 

only sound and time until sound’s last word

is an unintelligible sigh-gasp spoken in simultaneous step”

 

A sentence then begins, so many years of silence, a step 

towards despair which leaves only to again approach 

to whisper poisons from ancient books within which no word

brings joy, Persephone and petals both fall 

Narcissus, now one-eyed blind, sees no reflection

now there is no action to any thought nor thought to any action

 

Grace, eloquence, art, love all stem from action

Narcissus blooms, Persephone embraces Demeter, each a quiet step

away from bailiff’s forced isolated reflection

paunchy and somnambulent, the judge fell asleep no bench to approach 

we all rise always rise before our fall

for in silence there is no final word

 

So, a call to action, a novel approach

Think carefully of consequence, step cautiously do not fall

For in darkness there is no reflection, in the beginning there is only the word.