The vice of the shortsighted child

by Cristina Taliento 

Perhaps it's the vice of the shortsighted child

to pause in the fog, 

overwhelmed by the (In)Visible Whole that does not reveal itself, 

hesitating, as cautious as snakes, 

without truly advancing, 

whispering at themselves 

to stay quite 

and watch the match between 

their Famish Curiosity and their Myopic Eye. 

Perhaps it's the trait of the shortsighted child 

to light fires if low visibility condition are expected, 

and if they are not, 

to prevent total darkness when embarking on a hazardous journey, 

leaning out from the ship to see better that so tiny, 

sharply focused star

or even bending down, shrinking

and noticing, 

without deserving it, 

something that 

can only be seen 

from very close

or even from  

whitin.