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

purposefully he shunned comforts 

most are momentary temporary   insincere   

although he had a particular one one he repeatedly returned to  it was irreplaceable

                                                                                           if anyone ever askedthey hadnt

he woudnt try to explain they hadnt a comparable experience and sharing his would demean it 

theyd hear his words but wouldnt be unable to wrap their brain around them

his comfort was across the hall from his bedroom in the laundry room

he washed his clothing at night when he went to bed

                                                         the sound of it was the brother or sister to the soundthe wash of Huey rotor blades made so many years ago incountry plucking him to safety from behind enemy lines inside through sliding doors or dangling under it from stirrups loops to thrust his arms through and cinch  fly  most who risked it were the same guys except one pilot first snatch Warrant Officer Mack he took a bullet from the jungleno one heard the shot it came up through the bellystruck him under his chinout the top of his head blew his right eye out they didnt find it but in desperate moments retrieving him over two years they blackjoked Mack had his eye on them  theyd be fine theyd make it

four Hueys were lost retrieving him

Mack was the only man who didnt make it

2200,  Twosday,  27  12. 22

1200,  Day-between-Two-Ts,  28  12. 22

30,000 year old Indigenous Koonalda limestone cave drawings destroyed by pieces of shit  Press calls them vandals 

a remote cave

they got past barbedwire dug under a steel gate

vandals doesnt cover it

they are violators

when caught they ought to be violated  cut off their fingers  leave their thumbs 

                                                                                    that seems fitting

Tis the Season  1540,  Twosday,  27 12. 22

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/30000-year-old-indigenous-cave-drawings-in-australia-have-been-destroyed-180981363/?utm_source=smithsoniandaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20221227daily-responsive&spMailingID=47807938&spUserID=MTIyMTUxODU5OTExNgS2&spJobID=2363141943&spReportId=MjM2MzE0MTk0MwS2