Balance - A Tightrope Walk

the hallmark of days such as this

lined up on two different planes

the idea of a parallel universe

never more evident than this

does one exist before the other

or are they born at the same time

one came in like breathing

the other came with intent

in learning to be patient and listen

and to give emotions names

awareness is like a living thing

and also inhabits this space

in the midst of all of this emptiness

I can feel the crowd in my room

it is feeling suddenly uncomfortable

as if there is not enough space

feeling the need to bolt

feeling the need to break

listening into the emptiness

naming those gathering here

all of the familiar guests

loneliness, frustration and fear

everything feels the same

yet the shift has announced itself

upon arrival it shakes the room

knocking everything to the floor

rattling foundations, still not secure

wreaking havoc in this place

searching for the structural pieces

that connect to form a frame

the solidity rooted in the building

the unshakeable nature of being

there is a buzzing sound this morning

a chainsaw against a tree

but the birds are still taking twigs to the nest

I realize they can’t hear a thing

from the parallel plane that exists within

I can see through to the other side

I sit and watch in awe

as the world simply continues to move

it’s kind of like walking a tightrope

inhabiting two places at once

but balance can be a fleeting thing

as it takes so much focus to maintain

so inevitably there will come a point

where I will tip to either side

and then will come the answer to which came first

what could be or what has always been