The boldest man might have shrunk,
riding around of nights,
beyond the reach of the warm grasp.

Loss of time,
Reason to fear,
Worn with travel,
Defeated.

Compelled to flee
to the defense of their hearth,
   traitors, at heart,
Surrender.

Parting must come,
Utterly,
   in the end.

Rosa Jivani is an x-ray technician in the Seattle area who spends her free time poring over old texts to see what she can see.