A Mockery of Courage

The swirling mist condenses.
It clouds my eyes and mutes the colors of creation.

My paintings are never to be completed.
My life’s work now nothing but a haunting memory.

Her retreating form becomes a blur of motion.
The golden tones of our candlelit nights burn to cold blackness.

Nature abuses me, I reel under the weight of its sentence
And I have done nothing!

My heart soon dies from losing the loving light,
But anger propels my body forward in a mockery of courage.

And the cane taps so loudly, but not loudly enough
That I cannot hear them say, “Doesn’t he handle his blindness well?”

Stephen Sanders

Comments: 3

Denise L. Apr 22, 2010, 12:32pm UTC

Wow, that's very touching and nicely written, Stephen. It certainly had me guessing until the end.

reply to this comment

Marie J. R. Apr 22, 2010, 3:40pm UTC

strong, emotional and yet, heartfelt.
Bless you,,,

reply to this comment

Stephen S. Apr 22, 2010, 11:48pm UTC

Thank you, both, very much! This one goes all the way back to high school. I was standing on a street corner with two friends when a blind man walked by us. He was using a cane and was seemingly navigating his way without any trouble. One of my friends made the comment that I ended the poem with and it set my mind tumbling in the direction that this piece took. THank you for your comments!

reply to this comment

A Mockery of Courage

1 person recommends this post

Comments: 3

Join the Conversation