Sugar’s undone me
But if asked, with glee you’d smile
And tell of the deep
The toys that you stacked
The books that sustained young you
These bricks on your path
The gleam of the teeth
The taste, the smell of sky’s kiss
These truths on your skin
The steps to your calm
The mindful choice to bear pains
These questions matter
As a child, I’d read
“Beauty is as beauty does”
You’ve taken that long
I fear you’re not there
That your eyes do not know mine
So I gate my heart
She’ll take you too far
Don’t entertain the mermaid
Breathing down your neck
Lest you find yourself
In the belly of the whale
That you’ve befriended
He’ll smile “Welcome home”
That mermaid will be there too
With tea and kelp cakes
Next comes surgery
To retro-fit you with gills
Now you’re one of them
You’ll live in the depths
Meet with the surf and shores, then
Teach sonar to schools
But you could also
Not entertain the mermaid
Breathing down your neck
Helping hamstringed hearts
That sci-fi superhero
How does he do that?
Start again.
To breath again
and feel again
then smile again.
Stretch again.
Then ask again
and know again
to help again.
See again.
Next do again
then teach again
and add again.
Don’t fail again
to cry.
Original Thought Credit: “See one, do one, teach one” Unknown
I needed a prop
You were All I could find
You’ve always been at hand
I’ve forever loved you
As a child, I scoured your pages
And meditated on your wonder
Today, I tucked you under
And meditated on your spine
I’ll always keep you just this close
I’ll forever love you
And my Thesaurus too
Art Credit: “Supporting The Question” Jeremy Shamrowicz; Milwaukee River Walk, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Abhorrent when my timing’s ill.
And some do fear me so.
Suspect if I linger places
noises ought to go.
Reject me at your peril
if your mind and body plea.
Accept my invitation
-to your soul, I’m heavenly.
Footprints at the parks and Pier
Marching boldly against landmarks
Crayons on the picture window
Funny faces wearing too-big shoes
Trying theater to please me
You’re my sleuthing secret agents
Your spirit dwarfs the world
I make skyscraper mistakes
Yet you
Build me up with Auntie
Magnify me with Mama
You pilfer pictures
and wing out wisdom with words.
I like to steal socks.
