mercy finds us
sorely tempted –
at the end of letting go
clinging
as the final light
to fade

tis then
within our darkness
we remember why we came
and what is left
of every moment
made

regardless
our surrender –
or the lack of one to give
days are counted
back to us
the same

as keepers
sworn to memory
gifted us this way
as lifetimes
recollected
by name

. . .