The darkness hides the invisibility I wear

as a cloak disguises the cold that is felt

when my courage is stripped bare,

and the clemency I sought remains undealt.

Is it that you see me, but choose to ignore,

declaring to those able juice ridden ears of all my every crime,

faults, corruptions, misdeeds and more

that once friends saw good in me, destroying a rusting shrine.

I am cold out here. My skin has become shallow and worn,

I feel no warmth from the lit fires along

once friendly paths, beacons that beckoned, a wave implore

come sit with me a while, let’s see in the dawn

together, then drink and sing ancient trusts and song

have all began to fade, burn out, my company is wanted no more.

Ian D. Hall 2021