Sliver

At all times, I stand upon the razor's edge of eternity

But at most times, its expanse is hidden

Behind a roiling cloud of worldly things

And their presence an utmost comfort brings

There are times, when back the veil is pulled

And that razor's edge is revealed to me

Where I stand observing a sliver of eternity

To left and right, to front and back

Above. Below.

I see them standing there

Rank on rank

Each of them upon a stair

And row on row

A thin sliver of humanity

Observing a private sliver of eternity.

In time as well I see them there,

Frozen lives on absent stairs

Absent because I am aware

Of it yet cannot see it floating there

But with imagination I see them just as clear

As the faces floating near

A trillion faces just like mine

Thanks in part to wistful rhyme

Fading back and forth in steady time

Those trillion souls just like mine

Instead of finding peace the way

Many other seekers seek those days

I keep a certain peace of me

And observe my options three

First there is religion's warmth

A sanctuary far away

From tormenting thoughts that seekers think

A sacrifice the only way

To grant salvation dearly sought

A security against sonderous and lonely tides

Walls of charitable gold duly tithed

A solitary life holds more appeal

Than to live as mind lying still and safely tide,

To a life kneeling buoyed by zeal

Second arrives as inspiration's comet

Making a strict separation I

Could forego all worldly connection and

So make my way with cosmic affection through

The world without molestation from

Such loathsome thoughts as bedevilments as

The individual's will that is bane and blessing

Of the mortal mind's condition.

At last, there is the third, the one I end up choosing,

Every time without fear of loosing

The full ability to continue choosing.

A third and equal separate way

The one I choose every day

When the beloved murk of worldly things

Is pulled apart and from my hanging stair

The one that simply is not there

I sit and watch humanity

Each live out our slivers of eternity.