Shade
Shade
a seed falls         to the ground and dies
a man sets his wife in the ground and cries
the seed sprouts                     thirsty for change
the man asks friends for help which in itself is strange
can light break               bonds of dirt and grime
can hope break through the pain of being hurt another time?
a blade of green        bursts through the crackling crust
he wishes she was here, to reteach him how to trust
first bud          opens up a leafy straw
can cataracts reflect on what they hardly even saw?
soon stem    begins to strengthen itself
old man recollects re(se)eding sight and health
green grows best with rest and openness
caring for a son, he’s lost, he does confess
               that love is frail.
bark begins to form a frame it takes its shape
sunken skin, hair down the drain, he’s losing weight
he makes up for lost time by sharing his hope
he tries to tell his son               every silly joke
the bud becomes a twig       twig becomes an arm
he tries to be a shelter      protecting him from harm
seed set in time becomes a too tall tree
set against the house it is a sight to see
its brea(d)th reaches wide and shares its shade with the son
the man sets down his spade and knows his time has come
the friendship of a son who knows his dad is frail
the falling of a twig completes his toy boats sail
they sit on a swing swung from the too tall tree
they laugh and somehow know it’s their last memory