back in the shadows

don’t care about many things

possibly a bit more paranoid than others

with good reason

another nail

though he won’t lie still

the air in here is getting harder to breathe every minute

are you the thief he fears

when night time arrives

he stands back in the shadows

watching expecting what he doesn’t want to see

waves of anger crash onto him like high tide

on the most fragile rocks

creating cracks and shattering the hardened surface

a pied piper pushing yourself out of the river

onto a higher stage

the game where winners and losers stand all around

being neither a winner nor a loser

refusing to play the game

relaxed posture watching everything slip away

with the ebb

been the welcome mat for so many

the mat has worn many holes

and may crack and crumble under foot

what makes him any stronger than before

the knowledge of how weak he really is

many stand around and try to hold the lid

not lying still keeps them from keeping him destroyed

he can’t stand the thief

stealing not material possessions

he has none of any importance—

thieves of the past

gather with nothing to show for what they have taken

empty souls and hands

have nothing and the emotion that they steal

they know not how to use

take heed—if your ideas are on thievery

you need not steal from him

if what he has is not content

where it is

then he would be willing to give it to you

never have been able to stand up so high

fearing the crash

will not settle for the pedestal below

the stones of failure

completing the enigma that he is

hear too much

nothing without the emotion

deceitful wiles and half smiles

salt on his lips touching a forehead

think he doesn’t know

don’t expect any explanation

words written

rain or dew drops

still sit soaking as it is so easy to remember

so hard to forget what he has said

meaning to be found in any of this

cannot be found by all

that man that stands alone

needing not the support

all have departed from his side as will you

and all promises made are made in vain

the rain will drench his soul

without harm to anyone

no one sees him in his thought he is alone

never becoming anything more than what he is

at this moment

right now ready to go

see him shine as stars in the ominous sky

that is the mind

truly understand that

a step ahead

when the clouds clear

see the shine of thousands of stars

then will you know. . .