Under glass panes
Next to others
Flowers do bloom
But never grow
They don’t understand
Worldly torrents deluge
And its catastrophe
They bloom outwardly
Not as flowers
Same as caged
Birds still sing
But few songs
For flight inspires
Melodies far reach
Think not yourself
By the outside
Which people keep
For them selves
But from inside
Where no one
But you will
Find and keep
Greens dizzying array
Greeted you today
Mornings silence gave
Way to song
High and away
Like nymphs playing
Among the boughs
Zoe’s nails clacked
Across blemished streets
Like four-inch heels
At bar time
Pausing turning back
Sniffing and growling
Like aging Cossacks
Sun lighted polka-dots
Shone on the
Grassy toupeed lawns
As you walked
Behind her blindly
Sipping your coffee
During summers daydream
A bluish sky
Almost gray awakens
Me pink streaked
Broad marker clouds
Begin to evaporate
As the Saul
Stretches and yawns
Beyond hunter green
Trees far off
Distant bird songs
Like music boxes
Repeat delicate melodies
Coffee maker steams
Like stationed locomotives
Sending this morning’s
Aroma to bed
Flirting you awake
Sleepy you stumble
Groggy you pour
Add and stir
Joining me here
Kissing good day
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
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 