Kurt Philip Behm

One Step From Perdition (+1)

That day on the ledge

he started to shake

Each memory a tremor

of every mistake

 

The choices made suspect

as nightmares returned
The price of redemption

his destiny spurned

 

Alone and forgotten

his eyes straight ahead

Afraid to look down

where his hopelessness led

 

Each breath getting shorter

his heart beating loud

One step from perdition

one step to enshroud

 

But then in an instant

a voice could be heard

Not friendly or caustic

but rooted and learned

 

“Well jump if you have to

defeat as your crown

Your sins to fall with you

—forgiveness unfound”

 

(Dreamsleep: June, 2022)

 

 

With Every Breath

 

It’s not about

your need to hear

but what I need to say

 

The words unbartered

spoken clean

released to have their way

 

They choose their own

intended path

in beelines of advance

 

To scent the air

with every breath

—beyond your circumstance

 

(Saint David’s Pennsylvania: June, 2022)