inside out

down in the trenches
of the universe that is me
all the beautiful messy pieces
as far as the eye can see
it's a different sort of awe
from deep down under here
where the only truly terrible thing
would be land that's completely clear

a hymn of sorrow

thank you
for hearts to feel sadness
and tell us it mattered
to carry its meaning
tenderly, deep-sorely inside
gravity, significance becoming integrated
shaping my soul
in delicate peels of the woodwhittler's blade
thank you for tears to purge the poison of shame
thank you for words without sounds in the night
and love without regret