UPON US

UPON US

outside, in no time,
the rock heroes
were pitching into
new and
old school philosophers

meanwhile,
  inside the auditorium,
a voice was straining
even to reach a whisper
to instruct me
in the art of
thinking, doing,
being
beyond all duality

and you and I,
once acolytes,
found ourselves
titanic,
possibly primal,
and
    yet
        distinctly
out of kilter

essence of oil
    floating upon
essence
of water

two tiny boat lanterns
sailing away from each other
no hope of far shore

and outside
that battle
producing no
decisive victor

stalemate as outcome
splitting of spoils
division
of points

the stars gutted to lose
all reason to celebrate

joy in
   harmonious union
triumph
of will

nothing therefore
to suggest
   need for nice
sacrifice

as if
  the gods even care

as if
mythology is real

and
   blessing

be upon us

,