false start

the whistle blew
and our entire
gym class was off,

charging down
the football field
like a stampeding
herd of buffalo

the pounding footsteps
thundered in our ears,

the earth turned

under our feet–
we all knew how
important this first
race against

our peers was
it was a sorting;

something that could
set a pattern, a template
for all time
nobody wanted to be
that kid that came
in last that day

so we ran for our lives

yet, if I knew then
what I know now
I would’ve walked

more time

finsp2

the hands of time stood deathly still

the winds had ceased to blow

and silence settled on the land

like softly falling snow

it seemed an ancient prophecy

at last had come about

for all things stood the way they were

the day that time ran out

and everyone regretted

the life they’d left behind

they knew they’d do much better–

if they only had more time

(archives)

–photo/art by me

stick girl

she walks by

every morning

on her little

stick legs

she’s a waif

of a girl

with no shadow

i want to scoop

her up in my

strong daddy

arms and give

her food and

whatever else

she needs

i want to help

her with

whatever

made her do

this to herself

i cry every

time she

walks by

i think

i love

the little

stick girl