We Are In The Tunnel Now

 

We Are In The Tunnel Now

We are in the tunnel     still

we thought we had come through

but the circle of blinding brightness

never appeared against the dark

it must have been a crack or a dream 

when we flew to Mars and Moon

our magical thinking died after Nietzsche 

was blamed for the destruction of Europe.

Light is fickle against grey stipple walls 

— our flashlight too dim for perception

shadow precedes intention 

no religion can save us from hunger

love cannot bleach our body’s link

to the animal ancestor.

We created these walls and must 

keep walking towards light.

We have come this far

the journey not over — we shall die 

if we remain here.

(Sleep With Me: Lullaby for an Anxious Planet. Janet Vickers. Ekstasis 2020)