Moonlighting

Moonlighting

by Timothy Reed

I have cast two shadows

below icy lamp and moon

one long, pale, weak

(public)

the other, short and strong

black as coal

(private)

my greatest hope - to be seen

my greatest fear - to be seen partially 

Noblesse Oblige

Noblesse Oblige
by Timothy Reed

the cold, crisp night is an old foe
that presses and presses

as dying men see life in stark relief
the stars come into focus
he has hacked the moon to a steel sliver
but his blade has not yet touched our veins 

imminent

the final meal
the final rites
the final requests
before the final breath

there is an autumnal noblesse oblige to it 
as he grants color to each leaf
'ere it is cast to a common grave

What Time Does Not Heal

What Time Does Not Heal
by Tim Reed


last night, I dreamed of you
- it seemed so real
yet, I awoke to darkness
a lone castaway on this bed
sailing a thousand moonless nights


there is a famine not of food
there is a drought not of water
I am consumed inside-out
you have sailed past the horizon
your laugh is a dying star