The most painful
Thing for me
Is watching you
Fall and choosing
Not to run
To your side
At some point
In every boy’s
Life he’s got
To learn that
Only he can
Stand himself up
And face bullies
Whatever they are
This is the
Hardest and greatest
Gift anyone can
Give to someone
That they love
I pray that
You will rise
Standing amidst fields
Of wheat I
Hear the delicate
Sound of wind
Pushing the kernels
Together like my
Mother’s brush on
Linoleum floors in
Other people’s homes
Standing here free
From those days
So long ago
This sound sings
Now to me
Degrees of simple
Silence a place
Of quiet forgiveness
For her many
Years of sadness
There’s that oh
So precious moment
When I hear
Something I remember
And sitting there
Anywhere really there
You are with
Me and out
They come these
Tears welling up
And cascading down
My cheeks smiling
Through them excusing
Myself conscious to
Others sipping my
Espresso and recalling
Just the many
Many simple things
The East glows
This morning like
Far off bonfires
Igniting blue skies
Faint pink rouged
Clouds hang high
Like dangling earrings
Catching breaking dawn
Humid chill prompts
Up turned collar
As I sip
Coffee outside our
Little NoDa apartment
Waiting for you
To awaken shivering
Clad in last
Nights fleece pullover
Like many things
We share together
Early morning coffee
The chattering birds
Dawns first light
And dream remembering
Set our tempo
Like daily metronomes
Bean you do
Know by now
That which I
Have always known
I am here
You are there
Wherever we are
Recharging ourselves apart
So that we
Remain stronger together
We are each
The others cornerman
At the end
Of the round
Of daily battles
We find our
Place to rest
Taking a moment
Of reflection before
The next day
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 