Always

By Andrew R. Duckworth

You are chasms away,
Over rifts, over realities,
And here I am in the only
Reality that I know,
Bound by emotion,
Bound by the senses.
I can’t see through the veil,
Can’t see beyond my own eyes.
But you have transfigured-
Gone beyond the world
To different landscapes.
I can only imagine those scapes
Are those of endless waterfalls,
Those of endless midday sun,
Those of plentiful gardens
And gold paved streets.

Days ago, I glanced at the sunset
From my backyard garden of dying
Plants that I have been trying
To keep alive for the season
Knowing that the sunset
Would fade to nightfall.
You aren’t here to see the sunset,
Somewhere better where sun neither
Rises nor sets, but is always.

I wish you could have seen Utah,
Wish you could have seen desert
Mountains and the vast landscape.
You would have loved it.
I can imagine those big feet
Marching towards monuments
Like a child making their way
To a theme park entrance.
But I imagine the views are
Better where you are.