a poem of peace for a loved one.

When life’s road always seems uphill
struggle, struggle always
shifting gears, synchro-mesh straining
done explaining
yourself
to indifferent self-absorbed ears,
when you sigh
more than twenty times a day
exhaling theatrically
as if to say softly, “I’m right here
you know!”
there is nowhere to go if you don’t
see or hear, me…
Days get longer, suns fierce eye stronger
every metre stretches into
marathons of the busy beleaguered mind
left behind see
the back markers just behind you!
ready to suggest
you tried but failed the test,
then it is time, as I understand, to rest
unwind that old telephone
cord you call your vagal nerve,
serve yourself the same measure of compassion
you doled out to any stranger
struggling, juggling
life’s thankless complications,
take a rest, a vacation
from the unrelenting flagellating vocation,
take a moment
the sky is beautiful today.

Chris