The Inexplicable Death of Someone so Young

Sometimes one must escape

from the chaos of one’s job,

the sights, sounds, and smells

of a sad and suffering humanity

and find the solace of a quiet 

stairwell where the sun streams

in and makes space for thoughts

and feelings of one’s choosing.

***

Cross Country Practice

Those winding roads 

east of town with nothing 

but tall corn on either side 

and the sun baking down.

The trill of insects 

and the sway of tassels

in the breeze overhead

that does not cool.

The clomp of shoes

on pavement in sync 

with heavy breathing

trying to find a rhythm.

This is...

Cross Country practice

in the late summer

on the outskirts of 

a small Indiana town.

***

The Time Tunnel

The mystery of time as 

experienced on a 

particularly hot day 

in Central Park...

I stand in the coolness 

of a stone building

and turn to see my son 

under the portico.

He is in silhouetted profile 

and a time tunnel suddenly

telescopes out from 

my observing eye.

I no longer see him

but myself at his age,

the same body type, 

head shape, and posture.

It is uncanny in those 

few moments before 

he turns and acknowledges

me standing back in silence,

pain and regret welling up

from that faraway place

and threatening to overwhelm me

until swallowed up in his smile.

***