Falling Short

a poem by Nickolas Krause

Falling Short

January 6, 2024

Words are hindered, fall short the closer we come

to the needs of the heart as when we approach

some object awakening desire - a mountian piercing

the azure with its ivory horn - an ended

afair remembered at the scent of passing perfume -

a girl, lifeless in the rubble, seen

through the screen of my phone. For homely gifts

of Beauty, Love, and Justice we mouthe.

But, what are they? I can almost hear the youth

cringe with brittle hearts grown old and cries

of genocide fall dull as the thud of toppled

hospital walls. And yet I am disturbed by peace

brought about by this new year's snow fresh laden

across the manger scene - the Wise Men

leaving riches from kingdoms old and the westward

star late risen in the east. O Bethlehem

is here, now, as the wind blows through the renovated

world. All is forgiven; it is finished.

Nickolas Krause is a poet from Silver Spring, MD. In his spare time he smokes too many cigarettes, and goes for long walks in the suburban woodlands outside Washington D.C.

Also check out Nickolas’s poem To Linus; That Poor Neglected Fish, originally published in cracks in pomo: the zine

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photo taken at St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City