Meander
salmon swimming
upstream
what was a web
the tree that fell
a line of ants poisoning their queen
a dog without
a death that didn’t
a forgotten face
what was
what isn’t
the penny
the poet
the bulb
the bottle
melted snow
getting old
far away
but one life
yours
mine
theirs
TL
33
he’s standing
in the doorway
a coal miner’s son
and he’s talking about
this great big sack of potatoes
something he remembered
a moment …
his dad was there
he was there
an observer even then
he watched him carry that sack
through the door
and as children do
he followed him about
but the mines were
not for children
and the boy standing
in the doorway
was left
to wonder
if the mines were
not for men
not for a man
who could have been
with the wind
horizon high
chasing the sun
not underground
deep down
pick and shovel
who could have flown
through the clouds
not waded
through the smoke
who could have
come home
that day
and lived to see
his boy
a man
but such is life
no one knows
the bend
none but Him
TL
Wish
it rained
some
yesterday
not much
maybe a cup
or two
guess it was
the poem
or the hour
or the ache
TL
Turtles
can’t count
how many …
nor count
how many …
that timing
took
that timing
gave
shells broken
shells unbroken
down the street
and timing was
what timing is
just yesterday
when there you were
your shell unbroken
and there was I
but you’re young yet
so off to the glade you go
find some water
some damp dirt
a place to sleep
to wake up
and keep to the trail
outta the street
TL
Elevation
when we meet
strangers on the street
I beg of you
to speak
to use your words
the ones that weigh
unheard
bring it forth
this day
and I will stay
a moment more
drifting on your shore
for have I already
buckets of sand
packed and dry
and processed
dump them all
would I
heavy unto the sea
but for a grain
a single speck
that takes me
out of body
out of mind
and lifts me
where I long
to be
mid the mist
of height and width
TL