Sometimes life is
Like inhaling frigid
Air during Chicago
Winters painful choking
And eye opening
Other times it’s
Like the balmy
Honolulu ocean breezes
Filled with sun
Others it’s stale
Under blanket air
Heavy and stifling
Take deep breaths
Often for with
Each breathing life
I sit and
Wind wind winding
Knowing that soon
You will pop
Up surprising me
No matter how
Many times I
Push you down
I am childish
But you are
The clown that
Makes me laugh
Like a child
Books in hand
I sit waiting
Tapping and wondering
If I’m forgotten
Like a dog
By the gate
Watching for the
School bus crest
The hill yonder
Hoping it’s soon
Like the driver
Caught running late
In snarly traffic
Watching his watch
Time slipping by
This is me
Rapunzel in tower
Dreaming of that
One thing that
Will rescue me
Not from what
I am but
Will make me
Surely what I
I could be
And once again
Once the excitement
Of the newness
Has worn off
Like a birthday bike
I lean against
The garage wall
Never taken out
For an adventure
Once shiny new
Now I’m old
Tarnished and rusty
Not even my
Bell sings but
Simply tinly taps
If only once
My streamers flew
I’d know what
Freedom is like
Why oh why
Am I passed
Over for something
Shiny and new
Like licking batteries
Or playing with
A mousetrap and
Getting snapped mistakes
Are simply lessons
To be learned
Tools in toolbox
Cautions in decisions
Fear not the
Shock or snap
For if one
Doesn’t try one
Doesn’t learn like
Ducks crash landing
On icy skillet
Ponds or cubs
Climbing in trees
Bouncing when fall
We are always
Always learning something
Especially in love
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 