Poem #24

Construction Season

“Do I push people away?”

Is what I asked him today

He smiled in his coy

“What do I say to her?” way

“I haven’t gone anywhere yet.”

“Yet? You have plans?” I quip

“No, I’m not going anywhere.”

He states in all seriousness

He hears my concerns

The same ones I’ve had

The same pulling weight

That sometimes drowns

The cheers of sideline

Sunshine runners that

Dart in and out of my life

Telling me “I’m awesome”

But the others,

 I think are lurking at my windows

Watching me in extreme detail

Giving scores as if cleaning my kitchen were an Olympic sport

I feel like the scaffolding will never come down

And I’m this unfinished project with old materials

Patching the same old holes

Trying to keep out the acid rain

That eats away that one spot

Leaking through to my underground river

That feeds everything that grows

Curling its toes up before there is fruit

Because the water is poisoned

He listens and says nothing to this

Holds my hand keeping me steady

Looking into my eyes

He knows, there is more to me

I see the rain stop

The garden grow

I will make those phone calls

I will carry on

My building is open for business