Some kinds of pain

you cannot look at directly

only just

out the corner of your eye

like the dimmest of maybe stars

when the velvet night’s

soft swaddling embrace

is clear

Enough

If you know Enough to turn aside

minutely

to become aware

of their pull

Now dead heat

thrown off long ago

at last

has reached you

along the only path it has

Caught

in the only cup

you can hold

to receive it

before it continues

as it will

and you do the same

it only has to happen once

to be heroic

when the Gorgon comes

that someone

seeing it will all end

in disaster

Somehow

with wise mystery

Knows to angle the shining shield

as a glinting weapon

to not-see

All

Reflections

you need to know

more things

in the living

dark wood

Can be navigated

after long enough

If you are patient

And

Whatever you do

Don’t watch where you are going

but Go

Still

Knowing

we navigate

Peripheral vision