Futurelawyer

#PoetryFriday - Learning To See

ZOO

He watched the animals behind the fence.
They were oblivious to him;
they ate the grass
lay in the sun
slept in public.

He wandered from pen to pen
with the other animals like him
seeking enjoyment from watching another species
live its life
behind a fence.

They lived in the moment
while he and his fellow animals
lived wondering what the next moment would bring.

He recorded their images
posted them to Facebook
marveled at their beauty
and never considered whether
they knew or cared.

He grew tired of the walking
and wanted to rest
in the sun.

He found himself
longing for a life
behind the fence
that was actually free.

He wanted to live;
but, first, he had to learn to see.

#PoetryFriday - Delusion

DELUSION

Their money they buried
Their daughters they married
Their valuables they carried
everywhere they went.

They locked their doors
They seldom took risks
They ate healthy food
They spent hours on exercise machines.

They lived like they wouldn’t die
and refused to think about death.
They worked until they slept
and slept for half the day.
They didn’t learn the lessons of history.
They spent their time
trying to control their environment.

They never wanted to risk rejection
so they never loved.
They didn’t want to disappoint the neighbors
so they bought everything they saw.
They never saw a sunrise
and spent their sunsets watching TV.

They were surprised when life ended
and wondered where the time went.
They thought they would live forever
but the money and valuables and
swimming pools and fancy houses
lived longer than they did.
Those things live forever
and we don’t.

What did you say you were doing today?

CONUNDRUM

CONUNDRUM

The Philosophers tell us that grieving is wasted time;
I grieve anyway.

The Doctors tell me you are dead; but,
I remember your golden hair
and your smile
and the feel of your skin,
and I grieve anyway.

My mind tells me that life is for the living;
but I remember your face
and your body
and your intellect
and I grieve anyway.

In between,
I share life with another
and I find joy in living.
I smile, and laugh, and cry
and observe my fellow humans
rushing about
waiting for red lights
and wishing they were green.

I grieve anyway.

#PoetryFriday - Rose Bush

ROSE BUSH

They rushed around
Led separate lives
Ran red lights
Faced daily stress
Nursed sick children
Listened to irrational people
with problems of their own.

They lost sight of the goal.

He remembered the flowers he gave her
for Valentine’s Day.
They died in the vase
pretty for a while
before
like people
they withered and died.

He resolved that
next time
He would give her a rose bush
to plant in the yard.
Its permanence in the soil
would grow with time.
It would create blooms
that lasted forever.

They would plant it together
as a symbol of undying love.
It would be their legacy
to those who came behind.

Next time, he would get it right.

#PoetryFriday - Microcosm

MICROCOSM

He caressed her alabaster skin
attempting to wipe away the pain of her past.
He remembered his own pain.

It invaded the world of passion and love
and moved freely
inside the hearts of lovers.

Like a microbe
it travelled through the blood vessels
mingling with good cells and bad.

Pain grew like a cancer
uncontrollable and spreading everywhere.

Was his love the antidote?
Would it heal?
Would it bring a clean, fresh face in the morning?

He wanted to tell her
that tomorrow would bring freedom
from pain.
He wanted to tell her
that tomorrow would be a good day
to begin the rest of their lives.

He only kissed her
and wiped the tears away.

#Christmas - Christmas Memories

Christmas Is A Memory

He tried to remember how she looked in the kitchen
on Christmas Day.
A turkey in the oven
Fresh dressing in the pan
and wonderful smells that filled the room.

This Christmas,
another stood in her place
but never has tried to take her space
and knows
from experience
what loss feels like on holidays.

They sit
with ghosts
and fill empty chairs
with memories
while they create a present
with a companion
who understands.

The room is filled with the same smells
The Christmas tree shimmers in the light
of the same room.
The tables are stacked
with the same ornaments and tinsel.
The TV blares the same football games
and music.
Everything is different
but the same.

Joy and heartache
become brothers for a day
until the next day comes
and a future
of joy
and heartache
waits for everyone.

#PoetryFriday - Christmas Angel

CHRISTMAS ANGEL

He walked through the house
festive lights blinking on the tree
and a collection of Santa Claus figures
stood guard next to the fireplace.
The tree looked like it did
in years past;
but, it supervised an empty room.
He had no Christmas decorations
on the house outside.
They lay boxed and alone
in the garage.
He wanted to be joyous
like the revelers outside;
but, he spent his time
remembering Christmases past.

Like Scrooge,
he looked for joy
in material things
and envied the humans
with families.

He didn’t have to shop
for expensive gifts;
but, somehow that was no consolation.
At work, he stared at the computer screen
and spent the day looking at images
of happy Christmas revelers
and holiday cheer.

Then, like magic,
he saw her.
She appeared to him
as a smiling face
and a helping hand.
She had a glow around her
and offered her hand
in love and friendship.

He remembered that the season
was about the birth of a Savior
who would send angels and salvation
to a world in mourning.
Would she be his Christmas Angel?
He was in need of her gifts
and wanted to believe.
He would put her at the top of the tree
and she would bring light and happiness
to the room
where only darkness had been.

#PoetryFriday - The Scorpion And The Crab

THE SCORPION AND THE CRAB.

She crawled on the beach
carefully.
She peered out
from under her shell.
Suspicious.
Tentative.
Eyes sharpened to a point
fixed on the beach.
The sand rubbed her underbelly
and she slid carefully
toward the surf,
looking for scorpions
that were known to prowl in the area.

She touched a claw
to the lapping water
gingerly.
It was chilly from the winter
warming to spring.
She longed for a long peaceful swim
predator free.

She was wary
when the Scorpion offered her a ride
to love island.

Could he be trusted?

She said no;
but, she wanted to say yes.

The scorpion had himself
been stung
but vowed to ask
again and again
until she trusted.

He was willing to leave the desert
without knowing how to swim.

#PoetryFriday - Great Men Aren't Always Presidents

DEAD PRESIDENTS.

He watched the funeral procession on TV.
Millions more were watching
as the Politician, Airman, and President
was sent to his rest.

He was a great man.

But, he wasn’t the only one.
Millions more
live a great life
and leave great memories.

Some of them fought in the Great War.
They came home physically debilitated,
but unbowed.
They struggled to make a living
in a hearing world
and bore families in quiet dignity.

They studied law
but couldn’t practice.
They got jobs that used their skills
in other ways.

They attended Mass every day
and gave thanks to a Creator
who saw their deeds
and smiled.

They instilled values in their children
and grandchildren.
They showed, by example,
what it means to be great.

None of them got a parade.

#PoetryFriday - Waiting In Hospitals

Waiting In Hospitals.

He didn’t like hospitals.
Imposing buildings filled with humans
who cared; but, they didn’t know anything.
Their facades were foreboding; what did they hide inside?

He stepped inside
and walked on the carpeted floors
and passed comfortable furniture
and soothing music.

It felt like a furniture store
trying vainly to look like a home.

The nurses and doctors looked like aliens
in a landscape populated by green gowns
and white masks;
and metal jewelry hanging from their necks
screamed like a sailor
trying to keep calm
in the storm.

Disembodied voices coming from loudspeakers
gave instructions to strangers
whose lives hung in the balance.

He told himself that this elaborate show
was a necessary preparation
for the inevitable.
He tried to remember the mantra
that we all die.

Instead, he only remembered that he was in a hospital
and he didn’t know whether she would come out again.