the distance to the pillars

the exits we take
are numbered

and flash like the bass in a survivor's song
or the different colors of the flame
so our eyes are tired

some angels tell untruths
to get us in the same place at the same time
like the showing of a film
they open us up and send voices
from a sound box
and project you or me into light
to interpret

the future says we will be here
before and again
as signs point us wishing to fly
with all the birds around

the burning
in the portal of us
is love
raising waves
to sand
and drawing black
out to sea
via signage

an arrow points out
some voice
from ago:
raise us to the challenge of our sight

(lined across
where drawn by feet
a fade out
into water:
a whisper of a line
that doesn't end
wraps around us like the horizon)

the visible and invisible
exist
we know it
it is there
we look strange
coming and going

but that is how
we still burn