Rainer Maria Rilke Sitting On A Bench In Montmartre In Spring Of 1902

how did we get here and what does it mean
who said it must be and when can we dream
the world outside is cold and bright but when you take a breath
you’ll inhale the sunlight and exhale the rest

we give up ourselves until love leaves a bruise
invest in some chain mail to withstand abuse
but what if love is more than just the sum of what it cost
you yearn for the part of yourself you thought you'd lost

we're older than we used to be
and closer to the ground beneath
maybe we've got all the time to grow
maybe we've got all the time and maybe we just don't know

in spite of our failures the lines twist and curve
to regrow the branches the night has disturbed
when we wake we'll take the shape of something free and bold
and rest in the shade where the new greets the old

-aeseaes, (~2012)