in the short spaces between breaths
he stands transfixed in the gaze of god
and darkness overtakes the mind

idle idolatry fades into incessant wonder
and greatness is defined by a lacking spirit
as we said to our fathers, in days of youth:

“a blissful soul is emptied of desire;
it finds no rest in heights nor low places
and receives the reward of tranquility.”

a thousand years have passed since then
long since those days, ignorance remains -
still he waits for christmas but it never came

raging on, I remember, we continued
walked through the torrentuous day
and swam in defiance of the flood

and from the midst of lies materialized
a new answer, instantaneous infinity,
a completion that dwells within the void

but then he turned and asked of me,
“in the long slumber of winter season
have I been dreaming an eternal dream?”