Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Poems for the Other Half of April

Ok, this month was WAY harder than last year.  So yes, 30, was finally written, although I've been writing it in my head and heart for a few weeks. 



Poems for the other half of April

18.Moonshine
Sometimes we all look at the moon
And wonder
And remind ourselves of all we do not yet know


19. Beach
New suit new flip-flops
Packing car with what will be
Mostly unused stuff

20. Beach 2
Parking lot night mare
Rage against tourist filled cars
Spot found near Egypt.

21. Beach 3
No fire pits left
Mini hibatchi saves day
Marshmallows later

22. Beach 4
Spread out beach blanket
Lasts thirty seconds before
Sand encrustation

23. Beach 5
Sunscreen applied thick
Dreams of sun-kissed golden skin
Water calls, laughing.

24. Beach 6
Salty water up
Nose forced by nature isn’t
A good neti pot.

25.  Beach 7
Wave walking only
occurs when your feet fly up
Head under water

26.  Beach 9
SPF thirty
Never works against suns lips
Stained red kisses

27. Beach 10
Sun creeps down blue sky
Rays hit water flashing green
Bye red lips lover

28.  Beach 10
Heated skin cool night
Air chilled but not enough to
Stop marshmallow death

29.  Beach 11
Good bye sun and sand
Left red and sandy trudging
Moon lit beach sweet dreams 

30.  Home

When you said you were going home
It did not come as a surprise
But sadness crept into my heart
Knowing you would be far away.

Far away has been where you have been for a long time
And no one can blame you for being there
Especially when your puppy has been kept in a cage
By caretakers who refused to let you feed or water yourself
Kicked you every time you came near
And kept moving so you wouldn’t find them
So you gave it up when you had no other choices

We will all reach that point
Where aging parent s need the care
They freely gave to us as infants
You just didn’t have the opportunity.
So when he gave you something no one else could
A safe place to land
The choice was never a choice

And when you spoke your truth
About what you were returning to
And getting another puppy
That was really when I knew

So go home
Home to the place you once lived
Let those walls you daydreamed behind
Feed the fire that’s been tending in your soul
Let the carpets be the trampoline from which you launch
Grow the grass
Cut it with a lawnmower
Build a dog house
Make plans over beer and barbecue
And go get your puppy
Let him run in the grass
Feed him and water him well
Let him lick your face
We all know he’ll poop in the house and it will smell sometimes
But you’ll never regret letting him in the house to love you
The caretakers will come and try to tell you what to do with him
Some will be kinder and you’ll take what they have to say to heart
You’ll have to let him play with other dogs
It’s how they learn, sometimes the hard way
But know that ultimately, it’s your puppy,
That can grow into a dog
That stays loyal to you even when others walk away
Because you know who you are
And that was never a choice.

@2013 Jennie Olson Six