I do sort
our clothes before
I wash them
what you don’t
see is how
I pause when
I stumble upon
yours I inhale
smelling you in
the garden and
you at work
and you holding
your nephew close
I tightly shut
my eyes wanting
to but rarely
being able to
remember these moments
laundry is much
more than ridding
clothes of grime
for me it’s
remembering a time
Month: September 2023
BrushSoapRazor
There are certain
rituals men have
for me one
of my favorites
is the elegant
brush soap razor
it’s the anticipation
I think that
reminds me of
my father’s face
seen in mirror
miles above me
sitting on the
floor at feet
and this tradition
I now carry
but now it’s
you standing in
the doorway wearing
my last night’s
shirt smelling of
me coffee cup
in hand giggling
ohh you guys
trying to be
all grown up
and just as
quickly as a
flytrap snapping shut
I pull you
in covering your
face with soap
saying and now
you are too
EarlyMorningMoon
Here I stand
coffee in hand
gazing at the
early morning moon
up there cold
and all alone
like me now
are we siblings
you the older
sister and me
the baby brother
what wisdom do
you have say
I will listen
for you have
been around this
world far more
times and seen
far more things
than I have
what say you
as I thought
nothing but goodbye
see you tomorrow
Bench
At this point
in my life
having done plenty
and experienced lots
I am looking
for a park
bench to share
with a stranger
at first and
who slowly becomes
a good friend
after having lived
now all I
want to do
is patiently listen
to someone else’s
stories and songs
It’sJustThat
When will I
have the chance
to be the
child again when
can I stop
when can I
just stop this
bleeding
when will this
be enough
when will this
whatever this is
be the thing
that whomever you
are or will
be’s looking for
okay maybe it’s
the vodka talking
but uhm
*sigh
it’s just that
it’s just that
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 