Beyond the smoke

Through the white fog of desire
created by the individuals who
tread before us past the membrane
into the vacuum of hope
of a life beyond our understanding
stand we
hopeful yet weak
unable to touch the clear nether
of satisfaction
of peace
of understanding
yet we move forward
without thought or relapse
into the clouded future
one step at a time
time that steps ahead of us
and the corollary that attracts
the wild and the vagabond
into fighting the unreal
declaring war on the illusion
 and a battle that cannot be won
not now, not ever
not till we can see through the smoke
live beyond it
dream through it
forever questioning the answer
and never answering the question
if the question were so simple
or the answer real
even the smallest of beings
could recognize and understand
to survive, to breed, to multiply
the most base of instincts
should that be all there is
to this existence we call ours?