Lately I’ve felt
Like the last
Peach in the
Bowl well past
My prime my
Juiciness retreating into
My flesh making
Me tough bruised
And mealy far
Less desirable than
Those remaining plump
But even unlucky
Fruit’s fortune changes
Being at last
Included in a
Zesty fruit salad
Just like life
In our prime
We are robust
Yet longing to
Be picked until
At last we
Learn that being
Included in something
Grand is far
More satisfying than
Being something rare
I wish that
My heart was
Like a treasure
Chest locked and
Hidden away deep
In the ocean
Only to be
Found by the
Key holder but
Alas it is
Like the sea
Itself available to
Anyone daring enough
To swim in
It or curious
Enough to discover
The trinkets washed
Upon the shore
By those looking
For baubles valuable
Only to them
There are many
Ones the one
Over there the
One last night
That one and
This one but
The one your
One the One
And only One
It’s that One
Upon which you
Compare all of
The other ones
If the one
That you’re with
Can’t shoulder such
Scrutiny from you
Then that one
Isn’t the One
But one more
One in a
Sea of ones
I awoke to
Dreams of you
But not nightmares
Rather a merry
Memory of us
Together when we
Shone on one
Another like the
Sun and moon
Knowing that we
Danced that celestial
Dance around the
Other and now
As often is
The case finding
Ourselves out of
Reach simply orbiting
Oh I wonder
If happiness exists
In knowing that
Still after eons
We’re not alone
Simply separated by
This big clunky
Thing called Earth
And think of
Me like your
Cozy keeping you
Warm while the
Rest is cold
Think of me
As your mittens
Keeping your fingers
Together and protected
While shaping snowballs
Think of me
As your fan
Cooling you as
The heat of
The world makes
You sweat and
Finally think of
Me as your
Sleep bathing you
In such private
Things as dreams
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 