The day starts
Quiet as still
As a country
Church faraway the
Drone of a
Highway is heard
Like an orchestra
Warming up before
The concert of
The morning commute
You begin to
Stir and sputter
Pulling yourself from
Your dreams depth
Like a swimmer
Close to drowning
My early morning
Kiss resuscitating you
You can offer
A man both
Bread and water
But if he’s
Not hungry or
Thirsty he won’t
Eat or drink
That does not
Mean that you
Withdraw your generosity
The Kingdoms of
Heaven aren’t filled
With those that
Took but rather
Those that offered
Remain steadfast in
Your offers for
Leaving this world
With empty pockets
Makes for a
Lighter ascent like
A balloon freed
Of its string
Alone like the
Last remaining peony
Once a bouquet
Gathered and plucked
From a prairie
Of wild flowers
Singled out for
My splash of
This and that
Perhaps a distraction
Maybe a desire
To capture something
Wild and distinguished
But linger I
Do endure I
Must not for
Me but for
All those that
Spy upon me
We are like
Magnets sometimes fighting
To get away
While at others
So strongly attracted
That we simply
Slap against each
Other we are
Like old stale
Jokes that bring
Erupting laughter despite
Their habitual reappearance
Sometimes we’re calm
Like a Honolulu
Beach at sunrise
But mostly we’re
Like a letter
Finding its comfort
Inside its envelope
We’re not meant
To be together
Yet here we
Are always together
My dear boy
I’m simply wondering
I don’t know
Which is worse
You with a
Blank uncharted future
Awaiting your discovery
Or me a
Weary time worn
Traveler riddled with
My past memories
What I do
Know is this
To each of
Us comes the
Exact same heartache
For your heart
Is empty while
Mine is bursting
At its seams
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 