To Supply Growth in a World in Deterioration

I was painting a picture the other day

And for the fracture of a second

I thought the painting was you

That I had willed you back

With the stroke of a brush

Gently pulled

through bonewhite canvas

 

With colors red, green and black

I mobilized that old smile

And recalled the last mile

We walked side by side

 

You carried yourself with purpose

With dreams too wild

Too big for the world to accomodate

And with you 

followed this fragrance

An amassing force

That called us to action

On that day

When your endless pool

Of energy

Finally waned

 

We brought you water

In self made pots

To supply your growth

Provided nutriments

With home cooked meals

To envigorate your tired build

And get you back

To that proud posture

Even though we knew

What awaited us at the end

 

I hope we brought you some peace

In a world where growth

Became an impossible goal

And deteriotation became the rule

 

And with a snap!

The painting was gone

I was alone

With an empty canvas

And a brush frozen in place

By vivid memories

With my lingering thoughts

Resting

On a cliff beach crumbling

Under the weight of time

 

Passing at the speed of light

Epilogue

 

I was walking the other day

And I stumbled upon you

A memorial grove

I brought to you this time

Nothing but my presence

A furrowed brow and glistering eyes

Framed by aging grace

I wondered if the nourishment

We gave you

Was embedded in the earth

And travelled along

To nourish the world

 

For your presence was wild

And your dreams too big

Oh, how I wish I could rein you in

From beyond the grave

And share with you

 

A final farewell