I fell asleep and ran to the edge of time.
Nothing survived but me.
I had to clean up the mess!
Continue to party like you have no responsibility.
Burn it all down.
It’s a rental.
The deposit—nonrefundable.
You won’t need it anyway.
You find yourself on the Titanic,
it’s going down—
no more lifeboats.
Pour a martini and start singing,
because some things just can’t be controlled.
Death does not come as a thief in the night, but as an invited guest.
But don’t expect an RSVP.
At the appointed time, bring out the finest linen,
set the table,
uncork the wine,
wait in your Sunday best.
She arrives as a past lover.
Lips of cherry red,
eyes of flaming ember,
hair of silk and honey.
The angel embraces you and smiles.
She knows you better than you know thyself.
You serve the wine,
and suddenly realize, you have never felt a connection so deep.
Embrace the feeling.
She asks what you want to do,
who you want to see.
Your answer –
Just you.
She puts down her glass,
leans in,
and kisses you.
A kiss like you’ve never had,
like you’ve never thought possible.
A chorus of angels start to sing, and you are transported.
Do not cry for past friends.
Do not cry for past lovers.
Do not cry for yourself.
You now have all that you need.
And ever will.
Cry instead for those whom the guest will not visit,
for they are truly cursed.
Death does not come as a thief in the night, but as an invited guest.
But don’t expect an RSVP.
When the sun doth cease to rise
and the house has lost its warmth
and children wrapped in bed sheets
wonder of their worth.
Look out upon a distant light
and inquire to the north
and pray the stars don’t fail to shine
and end the journey forth.
Darkness comes.
What will be remembered?
Words written in books never read.
Photographs never seen.
Forgotten names of friends floating out to sea,
buried beneath the crash of waves,
memories lost in time.
A life hollowed out by regret.
I met her in sunlight.
Sunsets are inevitable.
I took her to a party,
but the music interrupted my thoughts and I had to leave.
She thought it rude.
I offered to buy her a slice and drive her home.
Everything looks different when the light goes out.
Darkness comes.
She called in distress.
A life falling apart and nowhere to turn.
Who was I?
Someone willing to listen.
But the phone never rang when times were plentiful.
A bad weather friend at the bottom of a glass hoping for a lift.
I hung up the phone.
Darkness comes.
Colors fade,
and so will you.
I went to bed alone.
Asked the spirits for a story of redemption.
But all I got was silence.
When you stop arguing with yourself you will hear the silence,
and know that nothing truly exists.
An echo chamber in a vacuum of space, waiting for a reply from E.T.
But all you get are messages to bring home eggs
before the rooster can’t control himself and the coop is overrun.
I woke to the sound of bees.
The queen had abdicated her throne.
Clover no longer sweet.
The workers went on strike,
declared a dislike for pollen.
Some grew allergic.
Summer withered and died.
Darkness comes.
What do you love?
Do you love life, or do you love the thought of people needing you
to boost your confidence?
I love the confidence of a rock.
Show me a rock with an inferiority complex,
or a grain of sand in need of identity in the center of the desert.
Are the stars jealous of the sun?
Or do they wait for it to get out of their way to show off their brilliance?
Get out of my way and let the darkness come!
I sit in the garden and wonder if God is here with me.
– Doesn’t really matter.
The trees and flowers keep me company,
the wind cools my mind,
the light rain washes away my tears,
and bees hover expectantly, in transport of their sweet cargo.
the right trust capitalists,
the left trust communists,
evangelicals trust God,
my dog trusts me!
She smiled at me on a bed of paprika,
sprinkled with turmeric and chili powder.
I asked for a dash of curry.
Red or green?
Red!
Always red!
The smell – Intoxicating
Color – Brilliant.
I was starving,
and hoped it would be enough,
as she poured the wine.
I walk to the window and see your face in the sun.
Was warned to use welding glass,
but opted instead for the full effect.
You did not disappoint!
Tears streamed down my face at the sight of such beauty.
Brilliance!
I was blinded –
longed for you to stay –
but alas – it was not to be –
as I sit here each night, awaiting the eventual return.
I fell into a black hole
You may wonder, how?
The space was rather dark
I imagined your face
The light
You spoke of great places
And adventures we’d share
I fell into a black hole
Forgot who I am
My face
My name
You reminded me of what I love
And what I want to do
I fell into a black hole
The space is rather dark
What do you call a hole turned inside out?
An uncharted universe
I fell into a black hole
Join me
Samuel DiPaola 