sleep to dream

humankind is

a subjectivity

to strangeness

a sense of knowing

a desire

to have it all

an absurdist chance

an unbearable burden

a gift

a curse

it shines

as the light

at the end

of the world

when the day is done

we will go

back home

we will turn

to ash and dust

we will make out

the swinging pendulums

in the sky

and everything left

undone

will be seen

tumbling

across the grasses

swirling above

and below

far away

out of reach

through the clouds

humankind is

a raised hand

an arched brow

a brush of shoulders

a nod hello

a collision car

a mountain

a slackened mouth

an endless waterfall

a critical hit

to the gut

a breathless noise

in the silence

a helpless cry

in the night

a pair of wringing hands

all alone

shared smiles

in a familiar place

warmth

on a face

a hand

in another’s

it is comfort

and doubt

motion

and stillness

all the same

it is grandiose dreams

in our minds

that once swam

through the great blue seas

but now tread water

instead

just to stay afloat

it is life

and the death

that comes

before it is over

humankind is

a miracle

a mistake

the way that it is

screaming matches

in the streets

eager eyes

picket signs

crumpled sheets

buildings turned

to rubble

children turned

to corpses

laughing faces

sneers

and snide smiles

tears

turned heads

fascination

sadness

numbness

and hope

despite the horrors

of each dawn

we feel it still

we sleep

to dream

and we awake again

in the morning

humankind is

insatiable

endlessly wanting

repulsive

and foolish

hypocrisy personified

it is

a screech of joy

a need to please

ecstatic nods

throwing ourselves

down every hole

clawing away

at the self

it is both

a vicious bite

like a beast’s

and the gunshot

that halts its crush

it is

amazing

and horrific

to wade throughout

this world

lost

and lonely

alone

yet never so

humankind is

a clock’s spin

a time bomb

a hug around your neck

a golden sheen

as the world fades

a spirit bond of sorts

an outstretched hand

in the dark

billions of mix and match souls

living by different principles

yet living

all the same

even when

pain rears its ugly head

doubt gnashes its teeth

and peace within the self

feels like waiting for war

we sleep

we dream

of better days