Mostly Parallel

Two lines

long
being drawn simultaneously
mostly parallel

The intersections
     --a history, a timeline, a ruler
sometimes curving towards each other
crossing and sloping gracefully back again
sometimes sharp and sudden jerks
     --of pen or of paper?
causing angles obtuse and acute
and some perpendicular
one fear jaggedly intersecting the other's resentment
two hopes arcing towards each other in dramatic swoops
joining to become one stronger line
and then a fork
each line resuming an individual course

Thick, bold strokes, drawn heavily and hard
take turns with shaky, almost imperceptible sketches
the proof of God drawn out and visible
in the weak and trembling lines

A vast expanse of parchment
     --history not yet written
overwhelms with its stark, glaring whiteness
the two lines continue onward in their mostly parallel paths
intrepidly pioneering onto the empty page
now knowing the direction, or the next intersection
knowing only that they are just ink drying
and always will be
moving inevitably towards new angles and arcs
with the single solace of sharing the page.

(2006)