POETRY

Annunciation, 2

When clarity and direction arrive in the fullness of time

Pinhole film photography by author

overshadowed, not so much
like the low-hanging shade
branches of a tree,
but more like having
the whole tree fall on you
at once

a real whammy
unmistakable
the loudest boom of a
still small voice every heard,
only by you

an eclipse of fire
flames dancing around the
heart as it burns
without being consumed

the stars come out,
lighting what had been darkness
every fiber of your being
responds to the irresistible
force of tidal pull
so your compass needle
flies to its truth north
and, in that mundane moment
standing at the sink
gazing out the kitchen window
hands suspended in their work
the path becomes clear

the future swallows its
direction whole, keys turn
in the ignition in that breath
of expectant pause
preceding a new dawn

Do you hear what I hear?