Well,

“Well what?”

it’s complicated...

my spidery, clumpy, crusty, day-old mascara coated eyelashes

are drooping,

they are heavy.

they flutter..

these eyelashes, my eyelashes,

flutter--

"--purposefully?"

now why would I purposefully flutter my eyelashes?

bashful, kind niceties fall

FLAT.

flat, in the face of Reality..

they flutter, yes, but--

not romantically, not flirtatiously, nor bashfully,

rather--

sleepily, groggily, disillusioned...

heavy and aching,

these eyelashes, these delicate eyelashes,

they feel the weight of the world.

they struggle to let in the light,

of bright day..

almost wishing they were resting,

covering aching, sore eyes..

yearning--

for darkness.

“Why?”

Well,

it’s complicated.

“how can ones eyelashes feel weight, any weight?

let alone that of an enormous planet?

to say they feel the weight of the world...

what a strange saying..”

--Uh, really??

this world, these people, this life,

it’s all too simple..

“Just open your eyes…”

But--

“Why not?”

Why not what?

Open my eyes?

Oh,

Well,

it’s complicated.

when I open my eyes, I see--

disorder, disillusion, confusion.

you know what I mean?

when these cold, dry, itchy eyes were closed,

they could see.

“How?”

Well,

it's complicated.

BUT let me try to explain,

There were trees, and not just any trees--

These were greener, richer, fuller than the average..

There were flowers, and not just any flowers--

These were more vibrant, brighter, larger than the average..

There were streams, and not just any streams--

These were crisper, fiercer yet calmer than the average..

There were bridges, and not just any bridges--

These were hopeful, purposeful, better painted than the average..

now--

“How could all this be seen? That too--

From, darkness?”

Well,

it’s complicated.