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.

24 comments:

  1. vivid capture of magical moments, masterful job!

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  2. to be a boy or girl again and jump in puddles

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  3. Been splashing around all weekend myself!

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  4. 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.

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

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  6. 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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  7. 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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  8. Oh, so much fun. You must find a child to enjoy your imagination.

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  9. A poigniant reminder of innocent wondering

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

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  11. 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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  12. 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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  13. 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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  14. 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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  15. 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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  16. 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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  17. Love it we all need to feel childlike at times think you put that across really well ...thank you

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  18. Having fun imagining you stomping in puddles.

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

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

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  22. 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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