If Not Purple, Then Blue
James R. Whitley

And if not blue, then bluer still,
the bruise of mood here.

And if not in situ,
then fatal.

And if night becomes a thicket
of thorns, burrs, serrated blades
of past transgressions,
then so be it.

Just avoid inhaling
the air too deeply.

Take short,
then shorter breaths
to mimic how time grinds to a halt.

Yeah, that's it.
Pace yourself.

There's a lifetime left.

1996 © 2006