Unlocked.
gossamer tendrils cascading through the twilight forest canopy
a hush permeates the mist
soft footfalls on the mossy bank
leading to the swiftly moving stream
resting against an old thick tree
breathing in the late summer’s green
birds sing farewells
moths stretch to reap all warmth
the spirit of the wood sighs
capturing the perfect portrait
of a late summer day
Could it be so much time has passed
Noone remembers that summer?
Walking through the woods
At the edge of town
Children’s laughter echoing amid treetops
I was but a child myself
Curious how you would go about slaying my dragons which I had imagined but didn’t realize you thought were real
I was not ready for the single, beautiful flower you gave me that day
And how I wish I could take back the surprise and confusion which shown on my face when you were just looking for acceptance
How it pained my young soul to see that glimmer in your eye waver
How I wanted to fix that bridge that led from innocence to awareness
We didn’t stop talking that summer
And I am so glad we ran into each other in the fall
I didn’t want you to go
I was a child and didn’t understand
Why I wanted to draw you nearer
But by winter you were gone
I found out while dancing
And I couldn’t stop
But my heart cracked
All over that icy street
Leaving me without breath
For days, weeks
I’d never again be able to ask anyone to slay my dragons
Or see rugged pines
Without thinking of that summer
And you
Walking felt like gliding
Wind sweeping slowly through my hair
Carrying the heady scent of roses
Only a sliver of moon shone
Lighting the way
On the long forgotten path
Hedgerows hid the night fairies
Stars held lovers’ secrets
I only had to walk to you to make it all true
We’d laugh at the stories
Sing to the sweet night music
Dance to the wind
I must be getting close
My heart is gaining a staccato beat
While my breath is just out of reach
Will it always be like this
My thoughts scattered to other planes
When I think of you
There is the glow of home
Just ahead and I am so full
With warm thoughts on this summer night
sluggishly coming around
curled up in the corner
by the cold hearth
forgotten
a spider resting on its masterpiece
eyes me speculatively
the only company I have
while the happy sounds of others
seep in from outside the window
I don’t want to move
to have to face the day
when this dusty corner has become home
cold, hard
like my stomach feels
when I think about donning a smile
pretending
swallowing pride
as others swallow me whole
time sweeps over me
I can tell from the sun’s rays
oscillating in the window
opening crusty eyes
hoping for a new world
the spider has gone
the web beckons
I want to feel any embrace
but I can’t reach out
the hearth remains cold
even as night descends
the others have come and gone
unseeing
I lie almost unfeeling
forgotten
In the thinly veiled hours of night
there was nary a sound
but of the moon stretching
it’s light reaching dark corners
forgotten in the day
sleep would not come this night
with such roiling thoughts and emotions
such little minds sweeping us along
why the hurry to the other side
who are they to toy with us
when we’re already too far gone
on the precarious limb
but there’s a higher spot on the tree
where the stars feel so close
it gives a glimmer of hope
to even the darkest watcher
The Word Rummager 