Thus, once more,
a cancellation
Of that new, wide opening of the spirit.

Once more,
a battening down of the hatches,
As winds howl past from nowhere to nowhere.

Thus, once more,
abject surrender.
Being cut to size. 
A farewell to risible fantasies of escape. How dare I ?

Acceptance.
Acceptance,
and a descent, once more,
into the cold abyss
Of oneself.

And yet,
the ever-present, persistent mirage of tenderness...
Is there even an antidote ?