love dusk to dawn

tears also flow from the big and strong

they fall lightly though, most times unnoticed
when they scream alone in a space of quiet
silence falls on ears, unseen through eyes
of others

they carry upon their shoulders

many burdens brought to them
which is what they choose to do
for the weak, for those alone
and for the elders

but in this strength that they profess

to possess, a weakness in their heart
devours them so too in their soul a sense
ef demise envelops them thinking 
no one cares, no one knows

they’ve embraced the characteristics of love

its empathy attire, its cornucopia of humanity
some days they lend a shoulder and in
other days they share its wares and wealth

even the big and strong witness sadness for

those lost in life and those touched by death
and for sure to be forlorn by the loss of a
child who only in memory they'll be adorned

the bigger the heart the more it hurts, it hurts

and in their soul tears flow and flow
for they now know their strength came not
from brawn but from inside their loving heart
for this they are remembered after they are gone
much like the stars to night, like dusk to dawn

 

a walk

today i walked softly gently so as not to disturb

the tiny saplings and clovers on the bank of
this river’s bend quietly so as not to upend
the sound of the running stream o’er the
stones and sticks, slowly so as not to distract
little minnows swimming in their abode

i share this walk today with my two pups

jaz, my girl, as she jumps to try to catch
a butterfly that ascends surprisingly from the
clover and grass and my jules, my boy, who is
now aged deaf and blind but his head rapidly
sways back and forth his nose close to the ground
experiencing with his keen sense of smell
and ears that hear the butterflies wings flap

this river bank is where my solitude resides

where my haven of many reflecting moons
off the pristine water and the many dusks
and dawns holding many of my life’s diurnal
moans and tears and only the gentle breezes
still hold my secrets of when i learned to listen,
to breathe in deep in calm and peace and
hence i learned to see beyond myself

many a song i’ve sat here singing to the willows

whose fingers now hover over and touch the stream
to the maples who would gather the shade for me
to sit under as i would jot with pen and paper
my thoughts of dreams and love and a journey yet
to come. so here i am in my return, to thank the
willow and the maple for the wisdom they imparted
upon my nature.

a walk well worth my steps, severing my ties with ennui

a crow

love comes in different shades and sizes

it can be found in the darkest of places,
in the least of spaces:

a crow who befriended me, who

tolerated my species was visiting me
in the mornings. she was underneath the
feeders this morning lying on the ground.
i noticed that she seemed to be injured because
in seeing me approach her she flapped her wings 
but was seemingly unable to roll over and amble.  
i was going to remain at a distance and observe her.
sometimes these birds can mend and thrive without
human intervention. the day had been forecasted to
develop into an oppressively hot day and evening.
dusk came and i went out to check on her. still on her
side, i petted her around the nape area of her back.
her lamenting eyes looked up at me, with gloves on
i lifted her to looked underneath her wings and noticed
the talons on her feet were clenched tightly as if she
had a stroke, maybe from the oppressive heat.  
this being a Sunday evening, pet refuge centers
were not accessible at least near me and so in
a human empathetic attempt to comfort her, 
i placed fresh water in a shallow pan next to her
and laid some seed around her. lastly,  i placed
a mesh laundry basket over her as a protective measure
from potential predators, debris falling on her
and some protection from  elements of the weather
the next morning i went to check on her.
sadly, i observed underneath the basket, her eyes open
her talons clenched, her soul had departed
i left around her fresh bird seed and a flower
RIP my friend !