Pavement

pavement   long  low and broad

gray and tough hide covering all

the horizon unbroken  flat smooth

pavement pavement  pavement pavement

as far as my steps will take me

not one difference   all steps alike

just pavement  wet with rain

drying  some spots higher  some are lower

lifeless gray pack dirt beneath  sinking

a little here  a little there

running and rolling and spilling

out over all this land   my whole walk

consumed by it   swallowed up by it

pavement unending pavement always pavement

pacing rhythmically forward

pave

ment

pave

ment

never resting   this smothering shadow

here and now here  the slightest rise

leading to a long crack   and then another

parting the dark sea

black on black

I stumble. Surprised.

something breaks through,

dares to interrupt.

a lean spire of green

a tiny thread of life,

the sparest surge of hope.