Seeing For A Moment

I thought I was growing wings-
it was a cocoon.
I thought, now is the time to step
into the fire-
it was deep water.
Eschatology is a word I learned
as a child: the study of Last Things;
facing my mirror-no longer young,
the news-always of death,
the dogs-rising from sleep and clamoring
and howling, howling,
nevertheless
I see for a moment
that's not it: it is
the First Things.
Word after word
floats through the glass.
Towards me.