Gathering on some
Far off horizon
In the evening
After humid days
Rain laden clouds
Plump with tears
Billow and spawn
Bringing angry downpours
Of unfettered emotion
Standing here alone
Wondering if this
Is a bellwether
Of something else
Turning myself skyward
Accepting my doom
Soaked and dismayed
Like prairie flowers
Shaking off all
Torrents and deluge
To bloom again
A bit weathered
Like barn wood
Sturdy and strong
And there in
I first saw
You splashing about
Swimming you said
Laughing I called
Dog paddling around
Just like Sparky
Have a drink
I asked you
Maybe you’ll relax
Then I’ll drown
Will you then
Jump in to
Save me sweetheart
My love I
Swim like concrete
Use the lime
And ice-cubes instead
Like lingering aromas
Of baking bread
Of newly discovered
Rustling tissue paper
Hiding wanted gifts
Of streets steaming
By summer rains
Of shushing tires
After thunder storms
Of white blankets
Bathing northern pines
Of orange moons
At harvest time
Of acrid smells
In hay lofts
Of espresso’s fingers
Tickling early mornings
Of the plumpcity
In children’s cheeks
Of the first
Wet lapping kiss
From a puppy
These always remain
As they were
Simply deliciously fresh
Upon eating ice-cream
We lose taste
Within two minutes
Then it’s simply
Cold and smooth
Has this happened
To you with
These simple words
That I write
Have they suddenly
Just become cold
And smooth and
Always there expected
Or do they
Still dance tickling
You like fingers
Over your ribs
Or the seldom
Seen yet always
Ah’d shooting star
Or have they
Become another pair
Of worn shoes
Or the umbrella
Left for storms
Or the dusty
Out of tune
Instrument of yesterday
Tell me honey
Do these words
Still toll sweetly
From far off
Steeples reminding you
Of time gone-by
If not I
Shall keep writing
Not to you
But with you
In mind for
You my love
Are always here
On these pages
If nowhere else
Standing before you
Naked not unclothed
But only truthful
Does not take
Courage but trust
To see me
Like this just
As I am
Places my self
In your hands
Either drop me
Flailing like fish
Or hold me
Like your own
I’d rather you
See me thus
For whatever else
You imagine you
See I simply
Cannot undo any
Easier than placing
The fallen rain
Back into clouds
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 