Written by Allen Plone

The face in the mirror
does not belong
unknown, foreign
this invading stranger

Have we met?

From the benign
indifferent universe,
there is no answer.

Is he the one risen
from ashes
of spent passion
of misspent youth,

where once he dreamed
of standing above the field
claiming victory over enemies
hearing cheers from admiring troops?

Good at many things
great at none
wishing once to feel
worthy of applause.

An ordinary man dares
to wake each day,
battles shadows of foes
invisible but for the light they bend,

the only accolade awarded
a chance to rise again tomorrow

featured in our spring 2018 issue