The Lesser

I can only stammer

In half-words, murmured

Before the day breaks

Breaks its oath to guide us

By way of its light mendacious

Breathe in my hopes and dreams

Exhale my wills and doubts

But these desert winds would see them blown away

Nothing near as sober

As a man who understands that he

Drifts alone, always, in life's sea of transience

Naked, prone to the hands of all things greater

Than his sewn up veil of cells and carbon and

Proteins which, when underfed, would

Gladly feed upon themselves

I am older, now, than yesterday

No wiser than before

But more aware, each moment passed

That soon I'll be no more.