To land in a story whose end I do not know—
as if we ever saw to any end:
I try to keep my balance, high and low.
The sliver of this moon, discreet and new—
Waxing? Waning? I forget. They blend
in a sky whose limits we don’t know.
Out of the silk and velvet bedroom now
to jagged crevices, uneven land
I stagger, lurching between high and low.
One foot. The other. Careful where I go.
Where am I going? I cannot pretend
to map this new terrain. Nor do I know
just what meanders led me here to you,
oasis or mirage. Beloved friend,
a shadow looms. Now something’s swooping low,
a storm of wings exploding in the blue.
Light is pouring through a mortal wound.
I am afraid to see. I want to know.
I clutch at uprights, reeling, high and low.
You have a decision to make: double or nothing.
For this week only, a generous supporter has offered to fully match all new and increased donations to First Things up to $60,000.
In other words, your gift of $50 unlocks $100 for First Things, your gift of $100 unlocks $200, and so on, up to a total of $120,000. But if you don’t give, nothing.
So what will it be, dear reader: double, or nothing?
Make your year-end gift go twice as far for First Things by giving now.
