Advice From Ants

The grass is green here

In this field

With no leaves

It makes a cushion and bed

It’s a forest to the ants

And the grass to them,

Are trees

In it they are lost or living

In the forever maze

I’m sure we can take some wisdom

From the ants

Who work hard and carry

More than they weigh

I’m sure they don’t even

Know I’m here

In my own forest

The Town, The Fire

The mountain is on fire

And the burning horse

Is running across the hills

Spreading chaos wherever it goes

A man twists his boot on a cigarette

He looks at the mountain

And spits in the street

Smoke covers the town

People run to their houses

And flowers retreat back

Into their buds

Men and women suddenly strangers

Fend for themselves,

Kicking, Screaming

Trapped like a fox

The town is on fire

And there is no escape

And you have left me

For good.

All that remains is ash

With time only

Can it one day vanish.

The Wind

I was always scared of the wind

It throws me off balance, is loud

And never quit

I’m mostly afraid

That I’ll become light

And that it could carry me off,

Like a balloon

I’d be detached from the earth

Floating slowly up, up

Watching everything become small

Watching to see how far I’ll fall

When I’m…

DROPPED

Just like in my dreams.

Old Man

The old man sits in his chair

Waiting for what’s next

Waiting for death

The young man seeks his wisdom

And the old man tries

But it is a language

The young man doesn’t speak

The apple tree still

Stands in the forest

Where a farm used to be

Evidence of a way of life gone by

And it bears no fruit

One Spot in Particular

Mostly I miss

Sitting at my kitchen table

One spot in particular

From there I could

Wait for anybody

To come home

Or watch my mom

Make us dinner

I went far away from

That spot, that window, that chair

But sometimes I can close my eyes

And be there

Remember

Late night walks

And moving slow

I’ve never been gone

For so long

Hearing a familiar voice

That turns me to stone

I’ve never missed you

Or felt so alone

I am anxious

Deep in my bones

And I remember your joy

I miss your song

And I’ll come crawling back

Once I’ve reaped what I’ve sown

Keep your eyes on the horizon

Because I’m coming home

Wounded

You came to me in a dream
Finally, after all these years

It was strange
And all I remember is you saying
"If it isn't my best friend!"
Followed by my name
As if nothing had happened

I shook my head in disgust
And dodged your embrace

You were my best friend
And the one I loved most
For a time
And being with you
Was like walking on air

But the wound you inflicted
Was deep
And all our promises were forgotten
As we grew older

Maybe I'll pass you one day
On the street of some city
Neither of us expected
Each other to be in

We'll look at each other in recognition
Shift our gaze
And walk away forever

All those years we spent together
Growing up
And becoming who we are
Passing between us like a mist