Uneasiness extends its hag-like hands
and grasps the few remaining strands
of reasoned charity; sotto voce voice
explains a heat you’ll learn eventually
to bear – with no surprises but don’t
dare perceive of it estranged in dreary
loneliness, or stranger yet, imagine
it still running free
And in that moment’s clarity all dread
dissolves in ashen frowns endowed by
goodness bound in generous deeds –
no need to feel ashamed of measures
you agreed in innocence; you gave in
sweet defence of slender apathy
© 21 December 2011, I. D. Carswell
