Like a child
Books in hand
I sit waiting
Tapping and wondering
If I’m forgotten
Like a dog
By the gate
Watching for the
School bus crest
The hill yonder
Hoping it’s soon
Like the driver
Caught running late
In snarly traffic
Watching his watch
Time slipping by
This is me
Rapunzel in tower
Dreaming of that
One thing that
Will rescue me
Not from what
I am but
Will make me
Surely what I
I could be
And once again
Once the excitement
Of the newness
Has worn off
Like a birthday bike
I lean against
The garage wall
Never taken out
For an adventure
Once shiny new
Now I’m old
Tarnished and rusty
Not even my
Bell sings but
Simply tinly taps
If only once
My streamers flew
I’d know what
Freedom is like
Why oh why
Am I passed
Over for something
Shiny and new
Sometimes in life
If we’re lucky
We meet someone
That is empty
That is capable
Of absorbing us
Taking away strife
Once filled with
Us they mirror
Allowing us to
See just ourselves
It’s a tremendous
Gift because we
Then fall in
Love with us
Then they us
They are magical
You to me
In my life
I have walked
Down many paths
Mostly alone and
Finding fellow travelers
On their own
Sometimes our paths
Cross giving moments
Together until separate
Sometimes for feet
And sometimes miles
But each time
Flowers and trees
Bend and turn
Watching us walk
Knowing that we
Just as they
Are here briefly
And know that
We will go
Along our way
Enjoying this briefest
Brief time together
You tickle me
Like riddles or
Those Chinese finger
Puzzles things you
Say make me
Cock my head
Curiosity sets in
Like warm sun
On icy ponds
Slowly melting me
Now free to
Flow I ripple
Tripping over the
Boulders you are
Finally landing in
The pool of
Linen and down
Where I swim
Until the morning
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 