Inside out.

if my hopeless gasping paused
for a moment, soundlessly respite
if I considered every moment
of contentment held inside

with quiet children dreaming
their own intervals of time
threaded through connections
never hampered by our lies

if I pondered my reflection
from the inside out
through my eyes, saw deception
filtering solemn, wary guilt

if absent for a moment
a day locked outside the door
which direction would I travel
which direction is true north

if air fed my silent cells
and love still fed my heart
if information fed my wit
from the inside out

if I paused for a moment
ferociously contrite
with children quietly dreaming
their own intervals of time


(c) Heather Brager 5.21.2010