It’s over screamed for no one to hear
Goodbye, see you around, hate filled ends
Nothing stirs, silence, acceptance -yes
I fell asleep, what did you tell me
Dreamt of your touch, kissing me softly
Were you crying, just tired- come here
Hair through fingertips, nose at my ear
Why me, you, and now us, here, a pair
yours forever without banded ring
Love not easy, love not always kind
Hear me to know me; then still love me
You stir me in ways yet profound
Row upon row these
Grey mossy sentries
Pock marked keepers
In an unemotional
Salute to the dead
The facts listed by
A long ago arduous method
Saving space, time, effort
The chiseler’s tired hand
Chipping a three letter
Wishful farewell, a likely
Homonym that life
Taken away is just that
Severing without care
Exposing the heart’s
Delicate vulnerability
When the attachment to
Another’s soul requires
Acknowledgment of existence
These tired monuments
Leaning like friends
In an effort to hear
A whisper from
The ground below
The only message
To the Dead
More for the Living
Rest In Peace
Calmly observing from this top perch of
Bleachers strewn with water bottles
A random scooter laid to its rusty rest
Boys on skateboards, scooters, trick bikes
Curving, jumping and skidding over ramps
That call out with metal thuds and bangs
In regularity becoming less startling
Enjoying the peace of watching the undisclosed
Keeping track these boys have of each other
They move in and out, brightly colored ribbons
Streaming around, over, past each other, no collisions
Prepared orchestration not required in this movement of boys
Levels of confidence obvious as they motion to watch
The skinny kid, feathered hair flying, as tires rise aloft above
The high end of the steepest ramp,
Heels pushing pedals to contract the body off the seat
A bird in flight turning in midair
Lifting tire to the sky in backward salute to the sun,
Steep descent to a forward landing bouncing pirouette
Momentary balancing pause, then
Proceeding in effortless direction across the concrete park
His almost unseen sideways glance to his audience
Minimal evidence he cares there is witness to his grace and ease
Red hair bursting out both sides
Of a thickly knit very pink hat
Her voice mockingly demanding
Fraidy cat, Just do it, Get down here
He sits perched like a cat
Without nine live’s protection
Sleigh tips not touching ground
Hovering over the slope, hesitant
Then the deliberate crunch of snow
Beginning the descent with a moan
His screams of fear woven with delight
The reckless race down the hill until
Wedging to its destination at her feet
Did you see that? Did you see me?
His tale of conquest spilling out,
He the vanquisher of
The hill, his fear, her disdain
She gives no regard to his feat as
Climbing back to the top together
They carry the sleigh between them
In thinking of New Year’s resolutions and how each year is a chance that hope provides to be better and to do better, my first thought was forgiveness. If I decide to be resolute in a certain effort for the new year, then wouldn’t it benefit the effort if first one forgave all the past lapses in efforts prior to moving forward.
Initially, in my head, I thought of the awe of one forgiving another and how difficult it can be. The family who loses a child due to any number of thoughtless or unintended reasons would seem to be the most awe inspiring. But what about the smaller things that hinder our relationships with self and with others? That is what I personally plan to work on this year. Happy New Year!
Wounds not intended
Hurts causing shame
Large indiscretions
Mistakes to be tamed
Request or acceptance
Eraser of debts
Cures all resentment
Peace you will get
Promises broken
Injuries laid bare
Hurt paths forgotten
Injustices made fair
Hearts joined together
Three simple words
Say them or give them
Love’s great reward
Breakfast with Buse 