At Eternity's Gate

In a pool
Of sweat and dark memories
A lone swimmer
Carves out lengths
On the quivering surface

While the ticking of a clock
Gives dry conversation
And the corners of the room
Stay at once distant
And pressing.

A wind
That finds no barrier
In bricks and doors
Becomes a tangling,
Strangling bed sheet

And the voices of others,
Choked on their own quiet,
Lose flight in the air
And shatter
Against the ground.

The clutter of things
Of dust and papers,
Hung and sleepless,
Have left
God locked out.

Beat in silent hands
Moon in silent song
Trees in silent climb
Man in silent descent
At Eternity’s Gate.