Fine I am
Fine I’ll be
A bit weathered
Some what weary
Now more cautious
Looking both ways
On one-way streets
It is still
Possible to be
Mowed down by
Some one reckless
Disobeying the signs
Law and propriety
I’ll just wait
Until the rush
Is finally over
To step foot
Again into the
Chaos of love
I’ve only ever
Loved one other
In my lifetime
The same way
Neither ever ended
They simply stopped
Like a car
Out of gas
Now on foot
I no longer
Miss that car
Instead enjoying things
I missed outside
When alone inside
Life slows down
When alone walking
And breathing air
It’s nighttime though
That worries me
When everything’s asleep
Everything but me
Uncurled and unfurled
The road map
Of your life
Lays before me
I am here
And you are
Way over there
How did we
Both get lost
When the last
Time I looked
We were together
I won’t catch-up
If you move
So you must
Either keep going
Apart or come
Back to me
Right where you
Left me before
If you don’t
I will find
My own way
Just as you
Will find yours
You don’t remember
Not long ago
On most radios
You heard static
And less music
There is joy
In ill-tuned things
It requires hope
That some where
You’ll hear clarity
Today’s static
Is very different
It is opinion
Impossible to escape
Prevalent and embroiling
Indeed life is
Such a thing
Swimming in noise
Mostly unrelenting noise
Switch it off
To find your
Own sweet silence
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
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 