To The Martyr

In my dreams, you walk backwards
Into life
A swimmer against the current of the galaxies.
The flower uncurls from its withering,
The olive casts its shadow
once more
On a field unravished,
And the house still stands.

All that was torn to bits
fragmented in your death
Flows into seamless beauty,
Again your mouth is whole,
The bruises darken into space
And light is reborn.

Oh, if I could but reach you…
Recover the steps,
Enter into the map,
Become one with the dream.

The dream has taken me hostage,
And yet here I remain
A candle without flame,
A rhythm without a heart.

I wake 
To embrace the light,
But endless space unwinds between us,

And I fear I might lose
my place
In the story.

Every distant wall bears
The imprint of your hand,
Every tombstone bears
Your name
Every battle cry 
Your voice

If I could but cross the line…
I can remain true
to you 
only
If my courage can run
the distance
Light the flame
Consume the shadow
And sink the burden of fear
In the unfathomable
Reaches of the unfulfilled.

There,
somewhere
In the silence beyond death
All things become ------
Visions are distilled into truth
And love relinquishes all boundaries.