Not Yet...... Poem by RIC BASTASA

for all the things you know
you keep it from me, as i too
do the same, we,

have no other purpose but to
keep the night alive, to free
it from the

harshness of the elements, the wind,
and sky, the earth
at their safe distances, not to

push and pull not to ruin any stone,
or choke a fish, and so the sea
must still maintain the depths

of our hearts, for we have carved
respect, to the rivers and the
mountain cliffs,

i know you know, and you know i know,
we keep our mouths shut,

we keep the thirst and the hunger
to ourselves, all we want is just this

love, and love and nothing more,
setting aside abysses, keeping bridges,

ourselves in tact in the midst
of a crumbling universe, and so here

we are, cheers, drink to life, to love,
till death, and it has not come yet.