Sunlight and Shadows

Finding poetry in star dust, sunbeams, and passing clouds

  • Elevation

    Perched so high upon this metal grate

    Through which I see the churning lake below

    Only those welded seams of iron plate

    Prevent my fall into the water’s flow

    The deep, cold water banked against the wall

    The roiling water pressing to get out

    The dark, long chute through which escapees fall

    The drop to hard cement in exit spout

    The dam stands so unmovable and sure

    Yet within covert weakness has been found

    Not from the lake force straining at its door

    But from its simple height above the ground

    Or is it from the human’s native dare

    Who must go stand on nothing in the air?

    ,

  • Skydiving

    Falling, falling through thin air

    Jet stream wind rush through my hair

    Spinning, spinning, arms go round

    Patchwork quilt of far off ground

    Trusting, hoping in that lever

    Since I can’t go on falling forever

    Speeding, speeding, accelerating

    Held in flying limbo, waiting

    Pulling, pulling the parachute free

    A whoosh of fabric unfolds above me

    Slowing, drifting so safely down

    A paper airplane in a cloud-filled town

    ,

  • Lawn Party

    After the chugging blade I trudge

    Shredding stems of grass

    Into confetti strewn in starburst spray

    Ahead, the long, unruly mane

    Behind, a close-cropped sheen

    Earth’s crisp soft hairdo for a brand new day

    ,

  • Rising Above

    Why do we walk in paths unknown

    When we could do what we’ve been shown?

    Why do we seek out higher ground

    When we could stop and hang around?

    Why do we, walking, try to run

    And doing, find more to be done?

    Why do the lights on distant hills

    Bring longing pangs and subtle thrills?

    We toil and labor all day long

    The constant, endless tasks, a throng

    With weary hands and tired sight

    Our minds cannot stop taking flight

    To things that rise above the fray

    To what could be, a better day

    A time beyond just fighting through

    A hope that gives us strength anew

    ,

  • Morning Walk

    I walked along a wide cool street

    As the sun was rising

    Yawning beams of light above the rooftops

    Crisp leaves skittered past my feet

    Flecks of gold horizon

    Dewdrops perched on twigs in glassy drops

    I felt the bite of autumn’s chill

    Riding cloud wings in

    Chasing off the lingering asphalt heat

    Brittle scents of dried things spilled

    Like syrup on my skin

    Mixed with earthy mums and pumpkins sweet

    I heard the honking call of geese

    In V-shapes through the sky

    Towboat fleets escorting winter here

    While squirrels leapt through turning trees

    To bury nuts nearby

    And build warm burrows to sleep out the year

    ,

  • Escape

    I see an opening up ahead

    A sliver in the rocky wall

    That blockades where the path has led

    And mocks what we steadfastly said

    That though we stumble we won’t fall

    Though we can only just squeeze through

    That opening in the rocky wall

    Though it will lead to dangers new

    The edge of higher cliffs to do

    We will not fear the mountains tall

    We’ll never forget to look back

    On that door in the rocky wall

    How that opening, just a crack

    Led onward down the narrow track

    Escape, deliverance through it all

    Answered promises when we call

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