FLASH FOOTLE
hang back
miss flack
You used to like me, what's happened now?
Ever since June, you've been so blue.
Stressing over nothing at all?
A one sided drama, a small conflict?
Is that all?
I say hi, but you don't even peek, let alone speak.
I try to celebrate your birthday, but can't find time.
You don't even seem to notice mine.
I know your favourite colour.
Favourite article of clothing
All your animal's names, and when you get up in the morning.
I visit you from time to time, and follow you everywhere.
I miss when we used to be friends, we'd play to no ends!
I don't remember much, I'm quite stuck.
I seem to remember things from yesterday, but not tomorrow.
Is that why you're mad? You're actually sad?
My birthday is coming up, but I've got no luck.
Just some flowers at a rock for me? Not even some god damn confetti!
I'd rather have games, confetti and cake, then to see your sad desolate face.
My dear friend, who I love to no end, I won't be there to see you grow up.
Maybe I'm just stuck up?
I'm too sad to move forward, so I'll hang back a little while.
I hope you'll soon find your smile!
In 2022 I resolve to be less accommodating.
Not the first one to yell “I will do it”,
often putting everyone else’s needs before my own.
I resolve to become aware when I am being taken advantage of,
and it was my own idea.
I will stop offering to go first, be first, taste first.
I will hang back and wait for someone else to be the pigeon.
When someone is moving, I will not begin collecting boxes for them.
When a stray dog shows up, I will not order a new dog bed.
I will look at myself and think “what do I need?”
before I think “I had better do this, that and the other” for another.
In 2022 I resolve to be less accommodating.
Oh, you need to borrow a car? Sure. Here are my keys.
My Baby:
Don't be too quiet, yet don't be too shrill,
Don't be too restless, but neither too still,
Please grow up hardy, yet soft to the touch,
Not seeking too little, nor asking too much.
Years later …
My Child:
Don't be precocious, yet don't be too shy,
The middle-sized apple of you father’s eye,
Don't be too forthright, nor keep to yourself,
Don't be too daring; but care for your health.
Years later …
My Son:
Don't aim too high, nor get stuck in a hole,
Nor hang back if offered an uninspired role,
Please don't take the high road or even the low,
The main road is best ... not too fast or too slow.
Years later …
My Epitaph:
Here lies a man, who knew how to conform,
Who never left harbour, for fear of a storm,
Avoiding the hot and the cold for lukewarm,
In loving, but not too loving, memory,
Of your only son ... Norm.
I’ve never been what you’d call outspoken;
my approach is to hang back and take note.
Perceiving injustice my heart cried, “Quit!”
Fearful, I lingered, silence unbroken.
Unwilling, my voice stayed stuck in my throat -
apathetic, reluctant, unfit.
Insults and put-downs I wished to curtail.
Teased for his buck teeth; Bob stuttered a bit;
I sit with him at lunch which gets their goat.
Actions can speak. When words have no avail -
outwit.
November 14, 2020
contest: The Speaker
hostess: Sara Kendrick
J-ust call to say hello,
E-arly first of February;
N-ever hesitate to ring up,
N-or hang back to text me.
C-all to say hello,
A-fter your sweet slumber;
L-et the morning be free
O-f vile or bad weather.
S-peak using your phone
O-r your two-way radio;
R-elay a simple traffic, just call to say hello.
So, you stand there over me
You breathe the cold, clean air
Knowing that no one will ever see
You killed the truth with lies
They believed what you wanted them to believe
You never really knew me
The real me you did not see
Kick some dirt in the ash
Crush it down under your feet
Again you try to hurt
Again you try to bleed
As you walk away
That cold shiver in the warm summer breeze?
That's it; yes turnaround, look around
You know that it's me
Let your mind play with the words
The words you wanted to let free
Let them stay locked in your head
So part of you will never be free
I'll be there when you least expect it
I'll be there when you're about to fall asleep
Something will move all by itself
Some smell, some taste, some cold heat
I'll drive you mad day by day, piece by piece
I'll be around but I'll hang back
I'll make sure you don't get any peace
Revenge doesn't die with the flesh
Revenge doesn't burn into ash
Revenge doesn't bleed
All puffed up, ducks, swans and goose
fluffed feathers on the loose,
afterfeathers clinging to open flagged wings
strutting as they move and sing.
Smaller birds hang back and low
un-intimidting, gentle, calm, slow,
little barbs rising from the contoured body
ready to rise, the ease of flight embodied.
Iridescent delicate tipped quills
bounce and float at will,
boldly embracing the cold wind breeze
downy fluff and stuff set free.
Ruffled remiges, covert retrices marked
by circannual monitorings embarked
the seasons bristly gatherers on the fly
all puffed up, winged avengers of the sky.
Funny
How some people are.
He can go up to a girl, and say,
"You're so pretty."
While I hang back,
Or watch from the lobby of the bar.
I wait until it is all over.
Mind you, she might have a big ass,
And I could be so not interested,
But I'm still amazed at the kahunas it takes
For one to do that.
For me, I watch from my chair,
Across the room,
And imagine an arm around a tiny waist,
The smell of clean hair,
Red lipstick,
And fleshy lips to mine.
Then,
An education.
Each step I take
draws to the abyss,
as I get closer
I hang back from the lip
Finding a squat
I kneel on the ground,
closing my eyes
to feel in the sound
A whistle of wind
draws me in first,
my soul does fill
till it could burst
Hearing the trickle
of water nearby,
quenching my thirst
in minds eye
And just as I thought
that was all,
a rustle of grass
could just be heard
Earth mother woken
in silent plea’s,
to rush and bend
and play for me
My face is warm
by the grace of fire,
stoking my faith
to rebuild desire
My elements all
did gather with glee,
but the final one
still escapes from me
The last of elements
thought to be known,
the fifth and final
lies far from our home
Far out in space
it floats to find,
a place that lives
within our minds
I turn and walk
from the abyss,
the finding of a fifth
is something I cant miss
Goosebumps and all
I lay
Under a bed of stars
Sparkling across the night sky like a diamond mine
Chinese Lanterns in the sky, hanging far from my reach
To guide me through the complexity of the darker night
The solitary moon and I Gaze at one another other
Parallel in nature, we hang back from the rest of the world
She, plagued by her cyclic nature,
And I, sickened by the cynicism that only a broken heart can bring
She pulls at the ocean, wishing for affection from the shore
And I, push away any attempt at sincerity
But she must fall as the day grows young,
And I must rise to the possibilities
My chest wall aches, as it fills with hope and the cold night air
This must be how a second chance at life, and inner peace must feel
Then the wind blows through the willow trees
The crickets move their bows together in symphony.
They made an overture, for the performance of only one
This is my song,
my new harmony