The madness

[vaneramos]

When the madness takes you
it's all sky in your head
eyes streaming sapphires
sun stutters catching your throat.
You're blind to everything
but the singularity.
Until you hit pavement
with wreckage of wax wings
broken, suffocating,
never saw it coming.

It will take you again.
Can't fight it
unless you split your breastplate
let life drain
to chill, languish
always in shadow.

Or keep embracing
letting it take you
spin dump dizzy
agonizing fire whip
until one day you get it right
knock high
and see the world.

Then
no words
for a while.

Afterward
if you lose your wings
you'll remember the way
paths and rivers crossed
never forget
the quilted land from above
with its eyes, and flesh
and clear pulse.
Keep walking.

You'll smile
in the glow of one moment
always flying.