Central Figure

He stood on the ridge,
Facing the storm
As the green sky churned
And formed a spiral around him.

Intensely present,
He held his back to us
As we ran away
From the lightning
And the falling branches.

He was Perseus
And Siddhartha.
His face: the finger of God,
His blown hair: Aegis,
Both with the power
To transfix.

And I hold him driven
Through my memory
At that moment,
Like a pin in the center
Of a butterfly,
Or an abyss at the heart
Of a whirlpool.

* * *

This memory is from years ago. Erik is the most beautiful, inspiring man I have ever known. I will always love him.