Me And The Moon Poem by John Powers

i stepped into the dark to grab a light,
and saw above me the moon in the night.
i stood alone in the cold and wondered what i am,
all the rest had gone to sleep, just shy of 5 am.
The air was frigid and the ground was frail,
the smoke around me burned cool with a trail.
The lamp lit the snow and all that was around
and all was broken, but me and the moon.

So i stood and watched my breath
i tasted the tar on my teeth
i wanted to beg at the foot of the sky
but knew no answer was there to hear.
Only the moon, burning white thru clouds
gave me comfort, it stood with me.

Down on the earth i looked down the path
to see memories and memorials of the past
So much was gone, twisted and stained
i knew who had lived, had left, had strayed.
Once there was me, a use, and a need.

i stepped out further into the night
and ashes fell from my hand again.
the salt cracked under my feet,
my toes were numb from the cold.
i looked to where i'd come from, why i was there
and i looked back to the moon, now thru the trees

Behind me i thought where did they go,
could i really have gotten here all alone?
Those by my side never wanted to stay
When they were here, i stood alone anyway.
Where was i going, is it to be?
Can these feet make it, carrying me?

The coal still burned bright red
just a bit left and then to the filter
And i heard a laugh, then two from up ahead
A boy and a girl walking down from the hill
her head on his shoulder, his arm locked with hers
i looked to the moon, it'd sunk to a glow behind a wall.
i went back inside as my cigarette flickered in the snow.