Time is our ally
and also the great conflicted ocean
that roils and froths and refuses 
to give ease and comfort 

in remembering
we hope to be reborn
and we are … to the extent that 
our remembering is both honest 
and welcoming of new light 

the winter air sifts centuries 
and the daylight crackles 
with departures toward 
tomorrows already past 

ruminations of pine and sea salt 
recast the sweep and rockface 
of calendars to become 
instinct and melody and 
gifting and prayer

to become free of simmering hardships 
time must collide with distress
and forge new muscles 
for pulling far horizons closer

liberation is lonely
even within a vast community 
because it brings uncertainty 
and the different sounds of a language 
still being invented

we stand together 
because that is what time becomes 
when you have love and imagination 
that welcomes clean ocean air