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
In the world
There are periods
Commas semi-colons colons
Also question marks
And exclamation points
All word rudders
Steering the eye
From wandering off
Or meaning beacons
Drawing thoughts close
Home to shore
Me I rarely
Use them preferring
You to follow
Only my voice
As I lead
Through the forests
Of my imagination
Leaping from craggy
Cliffs to surf
Hopelessly breathlessly wanton
With you there
Exhausted and laughing
At poems door
It was just
Sixty short years
Ago today that
The world was
Blessed with you
You are simply
Stars at night
Sun at day
Warming and twinkling
All of God’s
Peace and love
We all are
Fortunate to know
That we live
In your heart
Happiest of Birthdays
My sweet Mary
From me and
Those reading this
Early morning sun
Poked through trees
Splashing the street
With yellowed white
Every green imaginable
Captured before you
Like wildly grinning
Children caught off-guard
Zoe on leash
Prowled like thieves
Foraging for breakfast
Your shadow there
Danced like ghosts
Thinking of me
This morning’s walk
When I write
These to you
You have said
It’s like whispers
In the dark
Or notes slipped
Quietly to you
During the day
Reminding you that
I am thinking
Only of you
And simply that
No one else
Will ever know
The secrets contained
Between these lines
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 