Last night I dreamt the world cocooned itself while we slept

The frayed edges of the earth wrenched in, like desiccated rose petals 

Setting sun and furling horizons: a mirrored choreography of opposite movement

Red mixed with green mixed with blue mixed with violet mixed with gray, and then, slowly, the color of dark was formed

And so, we kept breathing

A capturing and comforting canopy, this envelopment arrested the play of time.

In the safe harbor of this circadian occurrence, tragedy ceased, sickness rested, death’s woeful course stood in abeyance

Imminent trajectories of destruction lost their way in the gloaming, suspending their journey until time was once again unfurled

Darkness brought relief. Darkness brought respite. Darkness was peace. Darkness was light

And so, we delayed dying

Then there was light: mirrored dancing in reverse

Eyelids opened from fitful sleep in time with earth stretching back toward infinite lines

Color, moisture, movement, the continuance of life and motion. But really, only death

The only thing renewed with dawn was the promise of certain sadness and grief

And so, we welcomed darkness