Nostalgia

It’s a disability characterized

   by distorted historicity;

      seductive confusion that,

         not only our best lies in the past,

            but our hope also.

               The fear he covers up

            with emotional comfort

         is that our lives and

      the world around us

   cannot withstand

the future's essential mystery.

His is a settling

   that has lost sight

      of today's beauty and

         tomorrow's possibility.

         Dance with him,

      if you dare, but

   do not strike out

to follow his road.

It circles back on you,

   surrendering your dreams

      and the fullness of your story

         for a single episode on repeat.

            © 2015 Todd Jenkins