Who
do
.
y
o
u
.
turn
to . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
f
o
r
.
.
.
pale
glimmers
.
o
f
.
hope . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
i
n
–
–
–
pitiful
places
.
n
o
.
one
.
e
l
s
e
.
dares
.
t
o
.
go . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
w
h
e
n
–
–
–
you’re
lost
.
a
n
d
.
cannot
find
.
t
h
a
t
.
road . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ the
road
.
b
a
c
k
.
home . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
Who
do
.
y
o
u
.
turn
to ?
–
–
–
.
.
.
Who
do
.
y
o
u
.
turn
to . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
when
.
y
o
u
r
.
dreamships
.
o
f
.
paradise . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
become
littered
.
w
i
t
h
.
lies . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
t
h
a
t
–
–
–
lean
.
o
n
.
fake
alibis . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ they
lean
.
o
n
.
fake
alibis . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
u
n
t
i
l
–
–
–
they
capsize . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
They
capsize . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
They
capsize . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
They
capsize . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
w
h
e
n
–
–
–
lies
lean
.
o
n
.
fake
alibis . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
Who
do
.
y
o
u
.
turn
to ?
–
–
–
.
.
.
Who
do
.
y
o
u
.
turn
to . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
w
h
e
n
–
–
–
heroes
.
b
e
c
o
m
e
.
ghosts . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ when
heroes
.
b
e
c
o
m
e
.
ghosts . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
a
n
d
–
–
–
echoes
surround
.
a
n
d
.
swallow
.
t
h
e
.
soul . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
Echoes
surround
.
a
n
d
.
swallow . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
Echoes
surround
.
a
n
d
.
swallow . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
Echoes
surround
.
a
n
d
.
swallow . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
t
h
e
–
–
–
soul . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
.
t
o
–
–
–
remind
.
y
o
u
.
you’re
alone . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
You’re
alone . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
You’re
alone . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
You’re
alone . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
w
h
e
n
–
–
–
heroes
.
b
e
c
o
m
e
.
ghosts . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
a
n
d
–
–
–
echoes
surround
.
a
n
d
.
swallow
.
t
h
e
.
soul . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
b
u
t
–
–
–
everyone
.
w
a
n
t
s
.
a
.
hero
.
t
o
.
hold . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
Everyone
.
w
a
n
t
s
.
a
.
hero
.
t
o
.
hold . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
Everyone
.
w
a
n
t
s
.
a
.
hero
.
t
o
.
hold . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
f
o
r
–
–
–
pale
glimmers
.
o
f
.
hope . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
i
n
–
–
–
pitiful
places
.
n
o
.
one
.
e
l
s
e
.
dares
.
t
o
.
go . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
w
h
e
n
–
–
–
you’re
lost
.
a
n
d
.
cannot
find
.
t
h
a
t
.
road . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ the
road
.
b
a
c
k
.
home.
Reflection:
This is a melancholy-themed poem that I wrote in reflection of those who might have inspired, supported, or guided us in life – they might have been family members, friends, romantic partners, co-workers, teachers, or even artists/celebrities who moved us in some way. Those who have been most fortunate have had certain kinds of “heroic” figures consistently throughout their entire lives – while others may have only had them for specific parts of their lives – until they perhaps came to realize their “heroes” were not as perfect as initially thought. In either case, it can really weigh on us when our heroes become ghosts – whether through death, distance, delusion, or disappointment. When I was much younger, I was very impressionable and had several people that I deeply respected and looked up to. Sometimes, I really miss those days – “heroes” seem much harder to find here in my later years.
I was saddened by the death of Robert Redford who was a unique role model for so many, and I used that to help drive the writing of this poem. I played the haunting gem of a song, “Nihilist Abyss” by Emily Haines & Soft Skeleton in the background to create the “moodset” and inspire the writing of the poem. If you listen to this song at low volume while reading this poem, you might better get the “feel” of it.