Waking & Walking

This hour of waking
Have you slept enough
Cough
Throat is sore
Cannot go back to sleep
Sit down
Find some words
Tell them
what to do
They obey
Rest on the page
like you told them
Look at them
Try to decide
if it's good enough
They don't know
what you're thinking
Change them
or leave them be

walking through doors
memory
years collapse
in order no order
water colors spilled
cover the canvas
turn the knob
walk through
endlessly repeating
turn the lights on
off when you leave
walking through
here in place
unable to be still
walk until
stillness takes hold

clearing

paths emerge from the clearing
standing still in contemplation
to walk into the shaded unknown
boldness of heart and will 
acceptance of chance 
able to adapt 
the unknown always
presents itself

I Did Because I Could Not

I could not swim across the ocean

I could not fly 

I could only walk 

   on my two feet

     one step

      after the other

I grew old walking

as I chased the Moon and Sun

I slept by moonlight

and walked by day

I let my hair grow long

and watched it grow grey

I saw my skin darken

and grow wrinkled

I kept walking through seasons

both furious and calm

I walked until my feet would tire

and my nails began to fall

I walked until I slowed

and could scarcely move at all

I walked until I had to sit

and sat until I had to walk

I walked until I found shade

beneathe the arms of a tree

I sat in comfort as I listened

to the birds sing

I sat and listened and listened

until I no longer desired to walk

until I closed my eyes

and I could hear the song no longer

Crossing

Her small hand fit easily into her father's as they crossed the street.

He held a twelve pack of beer in his right.

Her mother carried the groceries.

The light turned green as they set foot on the sidewalk.

It was the first day of the new year.

Walking the 405

Cigarette Butts.

Shredded tire rubber.

Dismembered Barbie dolls.

Pigeon wing.

Glass pipe.

Dying plant.

Dead plant.

Broken glass.

Broken glass.

Broken glass.

Broken hubcap.

Shattered tail light.

Beer can.

Miniature liquor bottle.

Bumper.

Violent wind.

Dead baby possum.