November UnTitled

You must learn to walk

the hard road

 while feet are bare,

over hot rocks

and cobblestone stairs.

 to kneel upon sand

for years at a stretch;

and, still the clock,

for you

will never learn love nor respect;

*

 you may catch your reflection

now if you're swift,

and your shadow may dance

against the wall of what's done 

 just as we must learn 

to wish all our wishes

into the sun

because fire is catching 

in every way.

burn down the fear -

to absence-

a negative space-

filled by the lessons

hard-earned 

and spare

of hunger's true strength