Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Puddles

When the rain stops I must get back to work.
I want to work on playing in the puddles,
a grown man getting wet feet, stained cuffs
and sensations felt best by small boys.
I will gather myself on the run to leap high,
high as I can, 
to soar over that wet window in the ground
through which I can see the sky, trees
and, just for a second,
me.
Burdened as I am by the gravity of time,
I’ll break that skylight into millions of pieces
of cirrus lambs, arthritic maple fingers,
and falling man.
For those moments suspended, though,
the wind will brush my cheek, my eyes glisten,
and I’ll glimpse that kid
in the wavering reflection again.
We’ll be flying.
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24 comments:

  1. Hyde Park Poetry PalaceApril 21, 2011 at 3:19 PM

    keep flying..
    masterful writing,..

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  2. AnonymousApril 27, 2011 at 9:37 AM

    vivid capture of magical moments, masterful job!

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  3. ChristineJuly 30, 2011 at 4:21 PM

    to be a boy or girl again and jump in puddles

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  4. HeatherJuly 30, 2011 at 4:31 PM

    Been splashing around all weekend myself!

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  5. ScarletJuly 30, 2011 at 4:35 PM

    Like these lines:

    For those moments suspended, though,
    the wind will brush my cheek, my eyes glisten,
    and I’ll glimpse that kid
    in the wavering reflection again.

    ReplyDelete
  6. RebeccaEllJuly 30, 2011 at 4:49 PM

    I prefer running through sprinklers myself - it garners the same feelings :)

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  7. hedgewitchJuly 30, 2011 at 5:07 PM

    I was smiling throughout--loved the window glass, the lambs and arthritic maple fingers--and you made me remember the incredible fun it was just being a kid and doing something so innocent and simple.

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  8. Brian MillerJuly 30, 2011 at 5:21 PM

    haha...see you are getting slammed with some spam there...smiles.

    nice. joe, i love playing in the puddles...and those moments when we can be kids again...break that skylight....love the descriptions through that part of your piece....

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  9. AnonymousJuly 30, 2011 at 5:46 PM

    Oh, so much fun. You must find a child to enjoy your imagination.

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  10. LisaJuly 30, 2011 at 5:57 PM

    wonderful feeling.

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  11. Tom EliotJuly 30, 2011 at 6:44 PM

    A poigniant reminder of innocent wondering

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  12. FireblossomJuly 30, 2011 at 8:22 PM

    Aw c'mon...inside every grown man there should still be a little boy. ;-)

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  13. UnknownJuly 30, 2011 at 9:34 PM

    The whole bit about breaking the skylight made me think of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Of course, there's still a playful little boy there enjoying the simple things. Always delightful to visit :)

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  14. TashtooJuly 30, 2011 at 10:26 PM

    Joe, you know what my little inner girl did...she went and put bold purple streaks in her hair to celebrate her vacay! And while jumping in puddles this morning, receiving strange looks from the passersby, I just had to laugh. I so love those innocents we used to be, and pride myself on hanging on to my own better than some...might be a running battle, friend! Let him out more often.,.at the end of the day, what of any value will it really cost us? Live, Love and laugh like you mean it, Poet!

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  15. AnonymousJuly 30, 2011 at 11:11 PM

    I’ll break that skylight into millions of pieces
    of cirrus lambs, arthritic maple fingers,
    and falling man.
    For those moments suspended, though,
    the wind will brush my cheek, my eyes glisten,
    and I’ll glimpse that kid
    in the wavering reflection again.

    Well captured and said. Thanks for the smile.

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  16. SheilaJuly 30, 2011 at 11:19 PM

    Joe, this gave me chills of nostalgia. I can't believe it. The maple arthritic fingers and cirrus lambs - brilliant metaphors! And the glimpse of the child-you in the water reflection is most endearing of all. Thank you, my friend. Off to share this little gem of yours...

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  17. AnonymousJuly 31, 2011 at 4:37 AM

    We need to let that kid out to play more often. A lovely nostalgic piece of writing that touches my heart..

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  18. lynneJuly 31, 2011 at 6:50 AM

    some of my fondest times as a child were playing in ditches and rain puddles..
    so we close our eyes, remember and soar..

    well done...

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  19. UnknownJuly 31, 2011 at 9:27 AM

    Love it we all need to feel childlike at times think you put that across really well ...thank you

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  20. AnonymousJuly 31, 2011 at 9:48 AM

    Having fun imagining you stomping in puddles.

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  21. RaivenneJuly 31, 2011 at 4:06 PM

    We lose so many simple joys as adults afraid of losing our dignified faces. Oh how a part of me was wishing you had given in and let yourself splash into wet window joining your inner child just for that moment.

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  22. AnonymousJuly 31, 2011 at 6:49 PM

    A joy to see the little boy Joe Hesch! We need more puddles! Bravo!

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  23. AnonymousJuly 31, 2011 at 10:51 PM

    To be lost in the memories of youth so many decades ago... no I prefer to jump any way!

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  24. signed...bkmAugust 1, 2011 at 10:40 AM

    Joe is a magical piece of writing that takes us back to that carefree feeling of flying and being part of sky, wind and water...thanks for sharing your inner child in this one..bkm

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