To live non-affirming
to live not at all
To hide in the shadows
and creep down the hall
To live uncommitted
new doubts to contend
All time intermittent
repressed till the end
To live without friendship
alone on the rock
A wandering echo
reflections that mock
To live undecided
with doubt your best friend
a future derided
—the present pretend
(Dreamsleep: November, 2022)