THE SAND HILL REVIEW http://www.sandhillreview.org 2001 May

Never Is A Very Long Time

(after Audre Lorde)

Another poet writes

that we were not

meant to survive:

those who stand

alone on the shore

of decision.

Those of us familiar

with failure and suffering

constantly face fear

from the heavy-footed.

We do not talk

about our concerns

fearing no one wants

to truly know us.

There is no triumph

in that we were not

meant to survive

days that begin, end

with fear.

Our silence does not

heal. We are soar afraid,

and our minds confirm

that we were not meant

to survive.

We are not shallow

and selfish, we are

numbed. Our souls

starve as we crave

indulgence

of our dreams.

Gail Clark