water's edge

upon the water's edge
i fear to turn
and face myself in all my twilight faults
indifferent ripples mirror the accused
is this who i must be?
and dare i wonder if
the sky's deep amberglow
will be my dusk or dawn
as shorelines' refuge gently melts
into the arms of patient waves
their whispers without words
i've come to know

upon the water's edge
i turn to face
its quiet surface as it waits
while i recall a time when once
i held proud power to decide
to merely walk across
or part it carelessly aside
but now as dark
and quiet currents beckon me
i only hope the breakers will be kind
and this cold lonely plunge
not last too long

© Jon Bohrn (1997)