There was a blackout tonight

In my town where I live

I wasn't prepared

Didn't know how to take

Or to give

People freaked out

Banging doors

Running up and down

Chasing for news

All around

On cell phones

That couldn't

Answer their calls

In all this darkness

Does anyone

Respond to calls

Does anyone

Hold the candle

That will keep

The light alive...

I was once prepared

Tonight I wasn't

I walked a mile

To buy the candles

I used to have

At a premium price...

As I trudged back

I saw the lights switch on

Ahead of me...

And people acting

As if it never happened...

And I thought

Blackouts

Can be more

Than temporary...

One needs to be

Ready and willing

Moving ahead

Before the light

Goes out forever...

And the receiver is dead.

(How can you post poetry when there are no spaces between paragraphs?!)

[Edited 1/24/14 0:19am]