It’s really only ever
The little simple things
Like the gurgle hiss
And spit of a
Kettle set to boil
As the first glow
Of day washes over
Last nights late snow
And chickadees bounce and
Bob skitter and slide
On the frozen birdbath
Like children wearing skates
As I spoon splash
And stir dark roast
Into a now warmed
Coffee press watching as
Grounds drop and emerge
Like we did that
One July day so
Very very long ago
In ponds out back
This is my morning
Of memories every day
When I’m told that
I can’t I can
When I’m told that
I shouldn’t I shall
When I’m told that
I won’t I will
I have that fire
That burns in my
Soul I know that
What I say can
Shall and will be
Sometimes soon sometimes later
But it eventually becomes
I’m not one whose
Wishes don’t come true
With that comes responsibility
As the genie once
Said to the prince
The storm came through
Like a drunken step-dad
Chilling everyone it spied
Cowering and huddled away
From windows and doors
Waiting for the torrent
To pass staying calm
And now as storms
Often do it’s sunny
The lid of clouds
Removed and what little
Heat that remained escapes
Like the aroma of
My grandmother’s chicken soup
Taken off the boil
Oh I wish that
I could but no
That like so many
Other things won’t be
They all were once
Then and back there
But here and now
Things are definitely different
So goes ones life
No more permanent as
The sand which skitters
And blows stopping here
For a while creating
Dunes upon which to
Climb and declare owned
That is until tomorrow
When time’s wind’s flatten
It into a beach
When the world
In which you
Live turns cold
You turn inwards
When kindness caring
And compassion hardens
You remain soft
And warm and
Woolly I know
I lived there
In a place
Of concrete steel
And plastic concern
Was by edict
But now once
Again living in
A world of
Love and affection
I still do
Shudder at touch
My heart remained
Free and only
My mind and
Body were caged
Give me time
Please to shake
Out my wings
I will fly
Yet once again
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 