injury

by

NEVER

“NEVER.”

That bitter sentence

sucks

a black hole

swallowing my dreams.

I dangle over the abyss.

“No more,” and

“never again,”

echo,

mocking my wishes,

carving canyons

impossible

to cross.

I expected better

although I don’t know why

I feel cheated,

trapped,

lost.

Am I still myself?

I hate this new

definition.

One without warning.

Involuntary.

Permanent.

How can I

accept

this

never

 

—DarEll S. Hoskisson 1/16

The final punctuation is up to the reader.

Is it:

How can I accept this?

Never!

or

How can I accept this “never?”

Stricken
by

Stricken

I heard the dark clouds are threatening
You’ve been struck by lightning
a time or two
and Yet you are still standing–
although with a limp, it’s true.

We know the storms will end but
hurricanes cause devastating loss.
We futility worry and wonder,
What will it ultimately cost?

But we also know that with rain
come the rainbows
as the light shows the
beauty in the storm.

We will certainly see
promised treasures
when we perceive them
in any form.

–DarEll S. Hoskisson 3/4/15