Really
REALLY
I ------JGL-------------- do solemnly swear
to tell you of all that I see and I hear,
invite you inside that dark space in my mind
allow you ten minutes to see what you find.
The errors of learning, childhood mistakes,
the stumbles, the falls, the failed “buckboard brakes”.
The cold teaching penguins, the hollowed out priests
the making of bread with - and without – yeast.
Fumbling of footballs and endless first dates
running for freedom through open church gates,
searching for meaning in life – or in death
discovering reasons – rekindling breath.
Disrobing a man - standing naked – and free
discarding the concepts that kept me – from me,
confronting the demons, denying the brutes
by feeding the bastards their own lying truths.
Standing atop bold towers of steel
alive in a breeze that makes everything real,
holding a love that awakened my passions
cradled inside a life that she fashioned.
Holding small hands, jellied and sweet
dancing with them perched atop my big feet,
Frisbee and soccer played in cold rains,
drying their tears in failure and gains.
Losing a step, no – the grandkids are quicker
or maybe my gut is a little bit thicker,
holding one hand as one left for battle
remembering both when they held baby rattle.
Embracing a soldier, a mother, my baby
filled with the questions of “if, when, and maybe”
Watching a brother and sister rejoice
at announcement that soon there will be a new voice
to carry the heart, the soul, and the wit
of a name, and a family, and what goes with it.
John G. Lawless
9/3/2014
For Skat A Keep It Real poetry contest
Copyright © John Lawless | Year Posted 2014
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