Vindication
I awake one dank, humid night,
my body fulminating with heat
and my mind in a clamorous confusion.
Shaking from my head the distant memory
of a lovely dream, cruelly shattered
by my sudden and unexpected awakening.
I could scarcely differentiate
between the dream and reality;
the two had melted together in perfect harmony.
Where was she...who was in my dream?
I look to the sky for an omen,
wondering if you exist.
The drifting clouds casually ignore me
as airborne creatures flutter this way and that,
dancing their dance of madness.
I gaze at those creatures; despite their airborne
nature, are they truly free?
Upon seeing me, the clouds become tempests
and rain down their wrath on the mortal realm.
What has incurred such fury?
I look to the earth for a portent,
hoping our time will come.
The wise and ageless mountains
greet me with silence.
The stalwart, solid, stable ground
astounds me with its impenetrable nature.
Would these mighty mountains too,
one day crumble to dust?
The stoic lands grow restless,
it groans and moans and churns.
What does it know, that I do not?
I look to the seas for a vision,
whispering my sworn vows.
The tranquil seas pay me no mind.
Bobbing one way or the other,
existing carelessly in its careless existence.
I turn my back on the aquatic horizon;
the calm seas grow murky,
it wells and swells and heaves.
Ships are sunk and sailors are swallowed.
What do the waters hunger for?
I look to the cities for a response,
my promises echo in all directions.
The radars circling the heavens
twist and garble my voice,
my analogue speech becomes digital
and loses all comprehensible meaning.
The gargantuan skyscrapers
mock and bellow at my pitiful plea,
dismissing my existence altogether;
the foul air chokes and strangles me,
and I am forced to retreat.
These cities were created by rational mortals?
I look to the cosmos for answers,
wondering how it will end.
The planets and galaxies greet me
with soft, gentle starlight.
I muse upon their creation;
was there ever a time without stars in the sky?
I imagine the skies bereft of light.
The enchanting beauty then huffs and puffs,
twists, warps, inverts, and contorts,
engulfing me in the endless vast.
Cold indifference surrounds me.
What lies beyond the infinite space?
I have searched the world for you,
but I remain unanswered.
Were my futile efforts not strong enough?
I look into myself,
wondering why you're so far.
I try and I try, but I cannot find you.
My search has failed, and I close my eyes in defeat.
I am ensnared in the darkness lurking behind my eyelids;
I stumble and stagger, alone and pitiful in my helplessness.
Suddenly I see you, waiting patiently to be found!
Ah! You were here with me, all along!
I reach out to you, but my arms
slice brutally through the air,
clutching at a distant memory and a hopeful future.
Is it only an illusion?
I look into your beautiful eyes;
reflected back to me are
the emotions that I have transmitted
in hopes of locating you after all of this time.
Then...it was not in vain after all!
At last, my beloved, we are here.
You look into my weary eyes;
reflected back to you
is a level of intensity you'd never imagined.
Your senses urge you to turn away,
but you look on.
Your trust in me is well placed;
I shall not steer you wrong.
I'll be your knight, my love.
No words exchanged,
we stand in place with our arms outstretched
as we turn towards the setting sun,
the cerulean winds caressing us from all sides
as they curl and whip around our static frames.
The sun sets and darkness envelops the land.
We both feel a vague sensation,
not quite pleasure but not quite pain.
Our eyes glow as we begin to hover above the ground,
illuminating the beautiful gloom with enchanting colors
of azure and silver and teal.
The gentle breezes become gale winds,
storming and howling all around us.
The earth beneath us vanishes
as we plummet towards the sky.
With you at my side, I stand unphased,
as we vanish into the maelstrom.
*Poem "Vindication" by Michael Caputo © 2008, All Rights Reserved*