For when the darkness comes, through the
streets it lurks.
The long bulky figures slowly disappear
inside.
In the alleyway they go, rolling past it all,
nothing to see but shadows
In the alleyway they go,
rolling past it all,
nothing to see
but shadows
Appearing anonymous to the people outside
oblivious, all is dingy within.
All are perfectly lined up, randomly with no
avail or order.
Dim lights make their way on the dirt path.
Engines running,doors slam, and all silence
follows.
The back, stalks a mountain, which can
faintly stare upon you.
Up the top of it, every movement is visible.
All slippery ice, hardened soil, and dead
leaves.
Early morning rises, and the figures come
alive. Exiting with notion. One tails the
other.
The yard drains of them, all empty… it is
what it is.
I relax on the wooden dock fishing
with little Jasper, thinking
not about the four-hour drive
not how the school year is starting in a few weeks
or if I will be on dish duty after dinner.
Nothing is on my mind.
Simply the tender air of the sun
mixed with the calm breeze of the lake.
We race to the floating platform and plunge
into the open water holding on to the rush.
Others join us after hearing our cries of
glee and laughter.
We have been through so much together;
through death that came too soon, through many
days and nights in this old rickety house, through storms
that almost collapsed the trees around us.
Some of us have gone, but we have stayed strong
held each other’s hands through the worst of it
and remembered the best of it.
But today while those thoughts are in the back
of our heads, we sing and dance
to the music that we create with our hearts.
In life, there is little room to be hardened with sadness
or to be so enraged that one cannot speak.
So today we are grateful for the days to come
and the ones we will spend here in this blessed place.
Sun is glaring.
Small waves brush
Against the sand.
The children laugh
In the lake that is filled
With people and toys.
Pull into the rocky driveway.
Unbuckle our seatbelts,
And run indoors.
Quickly getting dressed,
And grabbing floaties.
We most likely don’t need.
Painful feeling of
Pebbles digging into my feet.
Which fades,
Once we plunge into the lake.
From the city, to the opposite
From millions, to hundreds
From buses, cars, and motorcyles
To an SUV or two a day
Birds chirping endlesslly
In the big oak tree
Rocky Mountain air
Mountain ranges fill the sky line
The deck’s paint
Bleached by the sun
Benches and chairs
Weathered down from countless storms.
Sit down and take it in
This is peace
This is tranquility
This is the cabin
In the heart of Lexington
After the poor old stop sign
And a swift left turn
Follow the signs and
Don’t forget to wave to the
Nice crossing guards
That withstand every lousy
Morning with smiles on their faces.
Upon your arrival
You are met with flowers
Blooming from every bush
And trees towering over all
Who walk under them.
Those who come should embrace
The nice hellos every morning, and
Cherish the janitor that remembered
Your name, while looking out for the
Squirrels that scurry by every morning
And the birds that follow in the evening.
Finally, you have to leave.
There is not much there to do
Except remember the place you grew up
And move on.