That Sense Of Going... Poem by RIC BASTASA

There is pain in the soul
it is invincible
the whole body feels it
and it is
undeniable

You know it when
you start to cease
you cannot tell it to anyone
what you tell them is the joy
of the smile
the stories of
the nice days to come

For you are afraid of the sound of the wailing of the clock
the sobbing of the bedsheets
the cries of the walls
the darkness of the heavens
the pouring of the heavy rain

You are their love
and they have become all your fears
but the hands of the clock
signal the green light of going
and so you must go
silently
you tiptoe like air beyond the threshold of the door

The next morning the pain in your soul is gone
it is taken from the strings of your body
you can see people crying but you cannot hear them
what is the use of this movie you ask yourself
there is no sound and it is boring
like an old Chaplin
and so you finally go

To a place where it is as tranquil as a bay without boats and birds
airy, and as they have promised you
perfect
beyond the arms of the words
beyond the lips of the mouth....