Hardship

As meditation ends,
I slowly open my eyes,
Reorientate myself.

A street light flashes on,
Pink against the twilight sky,
And I’m returned to this place.

This place of hardship,
This place of pain,
This place of no ease, no ease, no ease.

Laughter is a long-ago sound,
Music is a long-ago sound.

This place of hardship,
White, cold, stark.
Boulders, unyielding.

Laughter is a long-ago sound,
Music is a long-ago sound,
In this place.