My Poem

is a photograph of a prayer
taken in a moment stolen
from other priorities
when I succumb to the hedonist
anti-Protestant Work Ethic
which triumphs over duty
and allows
the contemplation of words
and rhythm
the dance of syllables
and air
the synthesis
between mystery and music
that catches in my brain
and wakes me up at night
an image of a moment in time so singular
that only words will serve
to etch it forever
on the patterns of my memory
to provide some comfort
when I am old
to give testimony to the painful beauty
that was my life
that is the experience of being human