hearing the birds on this early ~ rainy morn
vocalizing lively ~ as if an obliging melody
filling the dew-damp air ~ simultaneously
with a variety of tunes according to kind
as my stiff knees and not so limber ankles
and feet ~ slowly and ever so persistently
become infused with an energetic rhythm
pulsating throughout my hefty-laden legs
a nudge ~ prodding me to walk and then do
what I describe as a naturally evolving
self-adapting style ~ this unspectacular
shuffle-jog ~ a shadow of the full all-out
run of early years ~ and yet ~ this morn
now within this sort of melodic prance
~ I more willingly move upon a familiar
although ~ unforgiving and duty bound
blacktop ~ of which ~ through its rough
and slanted surface this harden ~ stern road
unwittingly does intensify those aching pains
aged into my body ~ however ~ within this
humbling process of not as once was mobility
~ my mind drifts back to those vocalizing birds
scurrying about here and there ~ just doing
what they need to do ~ in spite of whatever
as if illustrating by such an eager activity
teeming with the business of the morn
somehow this subtle message is embedded
purposely and obediently by the nature gods
who are assigned the noble task to spirit on
all routine matters ~ recurrent patterns
revealing ~ without pause a struggle for life
~ I’ve had to experience to more fully know
and thusly appreciate the following ~
upon awakening from the depths of sleep
if I’m so blessed to hear again ~ a liveliness
for life ~ pulsating throughout the air ~
land and sea with an energetic rhythm
I too ~ heaven forbid ~ shall not linger
for long ~ dilly-dallying in hesitation or remorse
‘cause ~ I must get up to get going ~ willfully
and daily joining the ranks of the all-out commotion
the obliging melody possessing its meaningful
reason ~ so I’ll keep moving ~ running
or more in tune with reality ~ me by way of my
unspectacular shuffle-jog will try to stay alive
Image & Words by ~Keith Alan Hamilton~
