Our Hourglass of Storms

For some the sword is spent

as drones in thunderous skies glide gracefully forward

their eyes and ears from another land enabled

obliging the wanton shriek of suicidal echoes on high

and now

passions by rote rush to bestow hubris

upon the once separate uniqueness of fervor

distinguishing not the shore from the mountain

nor the heavens from the abyss

while

courage of spirit limps dust struck

through the decaying bowels of once strong Reason

its drought-laden seeds

now but remains of

man's innate carnivores of mind

we remember

somewhere the changes began

that brought us to ignore

the charm of the natural

the sweetness of life's innocence

the beckoning of tomorrow's awakening

questioning why

somewhere a twisted idea wound its way

into a downward spiral away from where

once reigned the feminine simplicity of giving

rendered sublime by the masculine desire to provide

but today

the messengers of expectation

wield stolen arrows and swords

to vanquish rationale of soul

and forge designer lives of fiction

just as

men of a once brave new world

willingly discard their armor

as flames of a cowardice kind

infiltrate their hearts with

treacherous trophies of complacency

yes

where times past there stood pillars of integrity

another ark teeters on the ruins

awaiting its voyage

upon the storm-whipped veracity

of the universe

trusting yet another pledge for truth

another hurricane chance at honor

for once there dreamed

the inner child

in all of us

once