Is Gone

People want to see the sky Crane necks for a better view of the wide open blue Heavy rains give the world a gray lid We want to push on it, move it away gasp for air at the surface of the world The sun glowering like a bright eye behind the veil, a cold secret yet to be spoken A wry smile in the night that no one sees, no one hears A man traveling alone along an endless road his suitcase clutched in grim hands the clasps rusty and resistant to opening The hours spent walking behind clouds after dark, out of sight, out of all belief like wisdom drifting in the gutter on a scrap of paper no one knows is gone We are fish and we are dying