A Little Discourse On This Journey With Me Poem by RIC BASTASA

i carry no light
i am crawling in this tunnel of dimness
bats hang on the ceiling of
wet stones
they do not sing
they're too preoccupied with their
silence
nothing about stares or
glances,
i carry with me the burden
of loneliness
morbid so they say
i have nothing to give except the truth
of the malady of
our chopped existences
sometimes i speak to the glowing
worm
i am not crazy though to expect
any logical
or sound response
this is the truth of our
living life
in the folds of indifference
i wonder though
why are you following me?

do you find joy in my shadows?
i look at my back
in truth there is none

so many are following
and now i know why
i know what it is

you nod.