By Susan Carman
To Truth
Is it fear That makes us turn from you Retreat Into ourselves Like a cowering dog Head lowered, ears flat?
Forgive us You are like water Cupped to parched mouths Like breath On an airless night Starlight bending To illuminate the corners Of our dreams.
I implore you Refrain from dying. How easy it would be To let you drift away Our attention elsewhere Like a cat grooming itself, absorbed Only with its tongue’s own path.
Forgive us our negligence You matter Like water Like breath Like morning as it breaks Over the hills Scattering seeds Along this, our curve of time.
Stay.