SHADOW AND SMOKE

Live your life as though you were already dead,

                                                                      Che Guevara declared.

Okay, let’s see how that works.

Not much difference, as far as I can see,

                                                             the earth the same Paradise

It’s always wanted to be,

Heaven as far away as before,

The clouds the same old movable gates since time began.

There is no circle, there is no sentiment to be broken.

There are only the songs of young men,

                                                                and the songs of old men,

Hoping for something elsewise.

Disabuse them in their ignorance,

Lord,

           tell them the shadows are already gone, the smoke

Already cleared,

                             tell them that light is never a metaphor.