Low slung sun
Briefly shaded by
Clouds casts golden
Gilt on the
Bushy tops of
Tall trees like
Shave cream on
My father’s brush
Lathered and waiting
To moisten low
Clouds that hang
Like a five
A.m. shadow while
Daisies yawn and
Stretch slowly opening
Like Chinese fans
This quiet morn
Here in Charlotte
And there I
Found you in
The forest glen
Standing tall majestic
Tree limbs spread
Like many arms
Cut you down
I did and
Made you mine
Decorated you with
Memories and small
Star like lights
Sang to you
Surrounded you with
Gifts tied in
Pretty colors and
Then after the
Season I undressed
You and left
You curbside why
Do I waste
Such beauty on
My own folly
The blue sky
Is littered with
Fluffy plastic bags
Wisps of bygone
Moisture reminding me
Of my grandmother’s
Hair blowing this
Way and that
Across her bluer
Than blue eyes
And there came
The fork that
Place where we
Went you me
And not us
Oh I wished
That we could’ve
Been us for
A while longer
For a few
More steps or
Miles or hours
Or maybe days
But now is
When I say
Goodbye to us
And hello to
You
Like a duck
On a pond
I spied you
There sitting in
The marsh pretending
To be the
Trees I heard
Your heart race
Smelling your breath
Fly I will
Giving you thrills
Shoot me you
May not because
I’m free you’re
The wet one
Pretending to be
Something else hoping
To take me
Down by surprise
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 