"One Foot In Front Of The Other"

Cold air slaps you awake
Faces smile and photos take
Flurry of activity as you wait

A song is sung by all who’re there
Several now, with uncovered hair
Hand over heart, if you dare

Summoned to gather at the line
Arranged by best guessed time
Breaths held as tension climbs

A mighty blast the starter gave
Bobbing heads in a wave
So it begins for the brave

First of many corners rounding
Voices no longer loudly sounding
Hearts and feet, in rhythm pounding

Seems forever that you’ve done
In reality, only just begun
Proof is passing mile number one

Easily, steadily borne along
With the crushing, pulsing throng
Soon enough, the line stretched long

The sun shining down on my face
Concerned only with finishing this race
Steadily, steadily goes the pace

Take a break to tie your shoe
Halfway there and now some goo
Tiger’s eye on a silver flue

Many on the road, traveling east
Not all are runners: traffic’s increased
Only those who partake enjoy the feast

Pain increases with each step
Could have stayed warm and slept
Pushed through, joy from the depth

Round the bend, refuse to whine
Running hard across the line
Race is done and I am fine

Crowd of witnesses strain to see
A wiser One paid the fee
Life—it’s not about me

"Redux"

Who is he with trouble?
Who is he with deep grief?
Who is he with quarreling wife and children?
Who is he who has a file full of customer reports?
Who is he who wakes with unexplained bruises?
Whose eyes are bloodshot?

Those who sit and stare at an empty glass,
Who long for the next cocktail

Gaze not at the crimson bitterness,
Nor the way the light dances on it
Don’t even consider how
It pours, again and again, from the bottle

Before the night is done,
You’ll be hypnotized
And hugging a toilet!

You’ll wander through hallucinations
You’ll say things to later regret
(perhaps even heresies and blasphemies)
You’ll want to sleep with the fishes
Or swing from chandeliers,
Shouting at the top of your lungs,

"I’m beaten and kicked,
but I’m not hurt!
Ha ha! Bring it on!
Barkeep, a round for all my friends!"

Then you’ll awake to find yourself alone,
Wondering how you’ll pay for tomorrow’s six-pack

"Kickball"

Kids of all ages
(Including
Classroom teachers)
Kick
Bouncing ball, blasting
At
Large league of little legends
Laughter

"Tossing And Turning"

My bed is comfortable
My linens are cozy
It’s not that I can’t sleep
I don’t want to
The dreams I have frighten me:
Flames of fire, eternal burning!
All night long
Tossing and turning

The temple is packed this morn
The birds are selling
The sheep are shorn
Money changes hands with a grin and a wink
"It is a good day," I pause to think
A flash—a memory from last night
Fear grips me, I’m on my knees
There it is! The fire I saw!
It’s in his eyes
Chaos and noise!
Shouts and alarms!
Boxes tossing, tables turning

Who is he?

Another sleepless night
But now I must know
I venture out
To greet this man—how?
A compliment will break the ice
But he turns on me—that fire in his eyes!

I was wrong: this one’s a loon!
Wants me back inside my mother’s womb?

He speaks of earth
He speaks of wind
He speaks of love
 greater than my sins

The fear is gone
But questions remain
All night long
Tossing and turning
Something deeper, inside me yearning

Who is He?

"Other Duties As Required"

Meg'phone student number namer
Young man necktie rearranger

Honor guardian flag retrainer
Sometimes solo color-raiser

Onsite website email helper
Up there high-reach spider-webber

Just for students Scripture-quoter
Snack time lunch time package op'ner

Clothing brand name tag inspector
Lazy feline stage-play actor

Cook time oven food advisor
Insect antics strategizer

Orphans mar'thon 'ticipator
Rooftop loafer 'mancipator