Nobody Spared

Except in dream, where the torn

ligature between cause and effect protects us.

The body falls into darkness and the darkness

pitched in time.  Time, the up-rushing ground

we never hit, but instead fly over or wake.

Every day dire with consequence enough;

blame and decay are not freak visits,

like May snow or dog bite, but raw

eventualities no number of hedged bets

prevents.  Though beyond us to predict

exactly when, at least we know for what.

“Nobody Spared” appeared in Rhumb Lines (Sutton Hoo Press, 2002).