When Suddenly

When suddenly 

the dust cleared 

and someone somewhere 

cleared their throat,

nothing was left. 

The coughs echoed 

deep to the rhythm of 

disappearing flashes; 

the solemn songs, 

dissipated, cantankerous, 

shed their tears and bounced away 

through tunnels 

that looked and smelled like old things 

that grow ancient and legendary. 

The legends fade, 

the sun dips. 

Cowboys ride on. 

And somewhere there is dust 

settling on a new morning 

in a new town, 

And nothing is predictable 

anymore. 

There are skeletons

of heroes.

There are shadows

of hope.

And in those shadows,

we huddle,

buoyed by good,

sustained in whispers.