Tag: park

Timing

Published on by ARiso1 Comment

I watched a little girl
speak to the leaves today.
Her mom yelled and yelled,
but she stayed put,
taking in the opinions
of fading yellows and brown.

Squirrels chased each other
in the tree near
where the girl spoke.

A dog stalked something
far away, another squirrel perhaps.
His ears floppy but pulled back,
tail standing straight up.

He wandered as his owner did,
individuals deciding
to come together again
when enough grass was smelled
and middle distance examined.

It was a busy day in the park,
but I sat quietly,
watching the world turn by
as if I were its axis.

A Stroll

Published on by ARisoLeave a comment

The honeysuckles smell sweet as I cross the bridge,
reminiscing about the past.

I remember my old cat,
his sweet demeanor,
the rare snuggles,
his thumbs—
the head bumps.

I hear my friends laughing about snails and gazebos.
I feel their hearts beating in time with mine, knowing
we are still connected over this distance.

I see my grandmum basking in the sun as
my brothers and I race around the playground.
The air fills with our laughter as I walk further on.

Friendly faces stroll pass,
some with dogs—
others, children.
A bird flies overhead;
babies chirp in the tree to my right.

My fears rise to the surface
as if the peace I found was a calamity.
I pause and sit
down on a bench to stare across the park, looking
for something to settle my quickening pulse.

The water twinkles in the afternoon sun—
a shimmering beauty.
The Beatles play in my headphones, drawing
a smile across my face.
The worries dissipate in the breeze.

Another bird catches a grasshopper
and the wind teases the trees.
The japanese maple is growing taller every day.
It’s leaves a moody red, drawing attention
away from the mighty oaks that stand like twins
just beyond it.

I feel less alone as I sit—
this bench, dedicated to Lewis lawrence, provides
me comfort from their perspective.