There wasn’t any way I could have boiled
and drunk yesterday’s cup of espresso or
moved the olive tree past the ridge or make
the sky forever purple, or perch with the
sparrows and blue jays on an oak tree branch.
There wasn’t any way I could have
made the Pontiac go any faster or upside
down or sideways while I sped down the
highway trying to escape my father. There
were wars all over the world then, while I
tried to look as beautiful as possible for a date
and walked down on the beach smelling the
sand and feeling the soft spray of foam from
an old fishing boat going by.
There wasn’t any way I could cut my
tongue out or replace it with a hand full of
lilies or olive leaves. I couldn't afford to listen
to my friends anymore, as I hid in Long Beach,
California and stay there at the thought of being
alive among the oranges and lemons and the
sparrows with their infinitesimal red and brown
stripped lives and an occasional hummingbird.
IN THE HERE & NOW
we seek,but can never climb
the knowledge tree to the sky-
wisdom has,its limits,you see;
we can taste,the tree of life
sans any,struggle or strife-
just a turn,&we forever be
I wish I may, I wish I might,
make a wish on my
wishing tree tonight.
A child’s rhyme, to keep close, my sounds.
Mental battles fought.........many days
Some times are “ups” but mostly “Down’s”
This rhyme I clutch to me and hold so dear
My wishing tree standing close.... always there
giving presence of thought, holding back fear.
What does it look like...this tree of mine?
I don’t know, I can’t quite see its shape.
Warm and fuzzy? Loving? Color blind?
A long time ago my Mother gave it to me.
I’m gone. I mean now I’m truly happy.
I live here, and John. This is our place to be.
Well, I do have a place to go.....my work.
I work at a grocery store.
I put things in bags. They call me a clerk.
I don’t make much money at the store.
But, I get money from DSS
It comes on the 15th, You know what it’s for?
With a coupon I get a milkshake for free.
Then I buy a big mac, a Play Boy magazine.
Then I wish for more milkshakes from my tree.
Inspired by a young man with Down’s who attended our church.
Supervised by DSS, he lived in an apartment with a room mate
and worked at various places as above.
© Apr 25 2010 Charles Henderson
Can you look out the window of your apartment
and say to the lone tree down the street,
“There’ll be no kittens on your branch today.”?
Or coax a raindrop to fall forthwith up,
back to its gray-blue consort
just to save a grownup rose’s precious petals?
I know the latter’s way too easy; so easy…
Can you advice excited stars
to untwinkle missed flickers of skylight
all for a blind man’s sake?
You do agnize it makes no difference, huh?
So might you try mustering words for this.
To make just what you think is best.
Then -
Why not put your spectacles away?
Or lay naked with emotions?
Why read the paper indoors
when light is out in the open?
Now I declare:
We’re lions with big game to catch;
what matters is the opinion of the pack
and what’s essential is the pride’s nod.
Now look out your window.
Let sunshine pierce through and for once
say to the tree down the street,
“I’ll grow branches for you today.”