Small Hours

By Cliff Lake

 

Small Hours

 

Sometimes when night passes into early morning hours,

Sometimes when the moon is right, honesty gains power.

Memories can come calling across the decades,

And I am exposed to the mistakes I have made.

 

In the brittle AM, my sins can be laid bare,

Remembering a youth when life was a dare.

Living my life as some action-man had done,

Now I wonder who paid the cost of that fun?

 

I’ve held all the wrong heroes,

Across all of my times.

False-facing mirrors,

Absolving my crimes.

Do I speak my mad sorrows

Into the night?

Or keep on riding

Imagined flight?

 

Do I keep on pretending to accolades earned?

Do I forego pride for humbling lessons learned?

Do I keep on careening on the cinema ride?

Do I accept some regret must pierce my hide?

 

I’ve held all the wrong heroes,

Across all of my times.

False-facing mirrors,

Absolving my crimes.

Do I speak my mad sorrows

Into the night?

Or keep on riding

Imagined flight?

 

Cliff Lake 10/27/2024

Copyright © Clifford Lake 2024

Location: Wichita, KS, USA

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