He was difficult
A challenge
Not very enjoyable to visit
Extreme ideology
A Christian Identity adherent
Vocal, preachy
But I hung in there
He enjoyed the company
Confined to his room
Alone
Dying
In the prison infirmary
©2019 Thomas W. Cummins
With the early morning fog
All was white-gray
Seeing nothing for more than 100 yards
Islands were not to be seen
Nor the far shore
Silence
Well, not quite
Soft, gentle movement heard
Water caressing the rock-strewn
Beach
I was thinking, for me,
This is a new experience
And certainly so
On this day, in this place
At this age
Who I am today is new
What I experience today is new
All I see and all I hear, new
The me of now
Has never existed before
I’ve never been this me before
I should be in awe of everything
Tired of nothing
Open to the grace
Of all things
©2018 Thomas W. Cummins
Going through boxes and boxes of stuff in preparation for downsizing during the next decade, or so.
I was quite young when I wrote this. Perhaps it was 55 years ago. Nevertheless, here it is
Heartache
Emerges unsummoned
From the subconscious
Takes up residence
Down low
In the stomach
Until
Nothing else matters
A simple question,
“What’s wrong?”
Brings a flood of tears
Washing away
Much of the ache
Leaving behind
Deep sorrow
Confusion, longing
©2017 Thomas W. Cummins
Sitting at a table
Our group of eight
A crowded restaurant
An awareness
Of my not talking
Not listening
Gazing out the window
Feeling detached
Indifferent
An unknown
Unarticulated
Longing
For what?
That missing something
©2017 Thomas W. Cummins