He Looked Into the Leaning Light (April Challenge 2)

Prompt: write about an outsider


He looked into the leaning light
just before it faded, just before
the sun fell into the sea.

He saw there dim shapes like angels
and glimpses of a shifting landscape
tantalising … then came dark.

And this was his trouble. Always
without meaning to, he saw such things
while those around him didn’t.

Who could he talk to, who would hear?
Then after all, it became easy.
One of the beings spoke back.

That’s right, spoke back – back to his thoughts
using a language of liquid light
and the whole sky broke open.

Afterwards there was no reason
to converse with blind and deaf people.
The world he walked in dazzled.

Its music was a mystery
of intricate delight and longing.
He moved surrounded by clouds.

Why should he not choose in the end
to enter rapture permanently?
Nothing was holding him back.