He takes love to find his sleep

It takes two nights to find peace,
when lights are too awful with life
—no end to earthly matters in struggle
where poetry gets its light.

It takes two eyes to find beauty,
one with lashes perfect, another chasm
perceived but not true in lacking,
for her beauty is complete and known.

It takes two nights to find peace,
when days are so awful and she goes
with wandering kisses to swim her own,
swim a river beyond his reach.

It takes two eyes to find beauty,
his on church steps and a wedge goes
as she chooses a garish, rich path
while he is left to write poetry alone.

It takes two nights to find peace,
with her head on his heart at home,
to heal the wounds lately received
Wednesday at church she left him.

It takes two eyes to find beauty,
after sleepless nights with no ease
in Brooklyn while in Manhattan she sleeps
with adoring thoughts vainly conceived.

It takes two nights to find peace.
It takes two eyes to find beauty.
He takes love to find his sleep.

For Elizabeth ....

-August 20, 2005
Richard Aaron Wright