beginning of the year  darkness has grown deeper every year since

when he looked forward into it the brightlycoloured Christmas lightsflickering Hanukah candles reflect sharper 

   the darkness is the mirrors silver 

   as a boy that tickled him

he could kneel by the front windowpull the drapes aside and see the wintry outdoorshis face like a ghosts paintedilluminated over it 

                             then he believed in ghosts    then he understood that his stayhis let was not permanent

when none of his playmates understood what he was talking about he went to his oldest friends his parents 

they confirmed what he assumed 

Grandmother they lived with her on the first floor of a two-flat house would die.

Your aunt and uncle who live above you will die.

I his mother said will die, your father who couldnt bring himself to talk to himnot without reason will also die.

he shrugged mournful Then whats all of this about

she smiledran her finger down his cheekhis jawhis chin pinched it between her finger and thumb as she often did her affection 

          You know it as well as I do.   It’s just occurred to you much sooner than most.

she was not comforting

I should lie to you? 

   No

No.

the darkness grows nearer

if he lives long enough it will encroachenvelope the beautiful electriclights swallow  the beeswax candles 

they will continue to burn

but he wont be able to see them

  

222 preferred,  Day-between-Two-Ts,  28  12. 22

1519,  Day-between-Two-Ts

Peggy Lee  Is That All There Is?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPP6UgkmyM4

The Youngbloods  Darkness, Darkness  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORSD_u2upP4