Echoes

A Poem for Two Voices


Give up                                   Give up
says the hammer of stress
beating a tattoo of drudgery
on your dreams                       on your dreams

Give up                                   Give up
                                                sing the fog horns
in forlorn low tones
letting the light of hope fade
to a glimmer
                                                shimmer
mirage
                                                in the distance

All right                                  All right
says your heart
                                                countering with its lonely tattoo
a solitary thump without echo
                                                ...... echo?
What?                                     What?
 Stop.
                                                Did you hear?                                        
A voice
                                                Small and soft
In the background
                                                Nervous at first, then growing stubborn and
Strong                                     Strong, calling out
In a loud, singing echo:
I won't
                                                I won't
I can't
                                                I can't
think that working
                                                and toiling
and fearing
                                                is the whole story

I'll hope  a new sun                 I'll hope
                                                a new moon
 a new faith
                                                a new song
is just beyond my
Reach                                      Reach