I planted a seed.
I assumed to have claim
to the fruit, to the plant
of that seed I had lain;
but it wasn’t to be so.
The seed I had sown
was a plant of its own
and my part in its life
it had quickly outgrown.
So let it be so.
For the plant was never mine.
I was just a sower of a seed,
and I guess… that is fine.
I will find satisfaction
in watching the prose.
I’ll watch it gain traction,
bear fruit and feed those
who don’t know
that I planted the seed,
that seed that still grows;
and I’m happy I planted that seed
…even if…
nobody knows.

A bijou

found on the ground
and placed in the pocket:

A tightly closed,
geometric,
serotinous, and
silver-plated locket.

Rumored to open
only under heat or stress.

Placed in the pocket
to fidget and fondle.

a psychological talisman
a cognitive charm
a token of anticipation;

and for months it sat.

A year:
untapped,
uncracked
unopened,
but armed.

Occasionally rediscovered
by a pocketed hand
rolled over in fingers
to be clutched and clasped,

this locket

without hinges,
without chain,
without hasp.

And then one day
it was withdrawn
from the pocket
into the palm

and noticed
to be opened
(slightly)
on its own.

It had found its heat.
It had found its pressure.
It had opened with time
from external stressers,
and it was ready to release
its full potential.

But it was quickly re-pocketed.
It was pocketed to be pondered

in order to wonder
as palms grew sweaty,
the bijou had opened,
so why wasn’t I ready?

It had opened,
but I could see
that the picture
in the locket
did not resemble
me.

And while I thought
and failed to do,
impatience grew
in that distraught
and pocketed bijou.

That bijou,
that locket,
then found a hole
inside the pocket
and freed itself
from being confined
so that it could find
a place where that hold
would cease to block it.

And now it’s gone-
gone where to?
Somewhere growing
beyond being
a pondered
and pocketed
bijou.

emerging from a chilling starkness
two-toned beings shed their darkness.
perched and preening folded wings
they clean themselves and ponder things.
a’pauled by shadow they’ve led and wallowed;
enthralled by shine they’re fed to swallow
basking selves in warming light
these two-toned beings prep for flight;
and they, as pages gently tern
devote their morn to groom and learn.
these paradoxical two-toned ones
are dark behind and white in front.
the coldness of their hours done
is purged by dawn of rising son.
and so the gospel, undeterred
reflects itself to man from bird,
as one cleans wings for flight of nest;
the other seeks his righteousness.