Two Tunnels And A Lantern Poem by Sean Skinner (The Affection and Abandonment Excerpt, pt. 1)

There is a man in a parallel tunnel to mine
He carries beside him a lantern with such great shine
The walls are clear to him, his surroundings brightly lit
He sees all the bumps, all the cracks, all the pits

We set forth to a destination that is the same
To a light so bright, his lantern's glow appears tame
Gallantly he marches, standing oh so very tall
Meanwhile, in my darkness I trip, stumble, and fall

For I carry no such lantern, never have nor will
Because knowing where I stand eliminates the thrill
Of chasing down a glimmer when blind to all the rest
The prospect well worth the added time I may invest

So as my comrade reaches destiny before I
He'll come to realize his voyage has been tainted by
The mundanity of his most recent escapades
And learn just how much fruition the light barricades