Moon Shadows

by Joanie Roberts

Human toils and tides
Hardships and bellows
Follows us like the moon

You can see him over there - - -

Sitting on your shoulder
And his shadow
Grows longer still

But then a heart stops! - - -

You just thought
You had more time
You can’t go on no further

Hard luck strikes ~
This is it!
It’s over!

There is no more ~
And then …
By some miracle, a reprieve

While you recover
Your body becomes slow and weighted down
in trying out the living again

Like freedom forgotten
Escaping is your only thought
Becomes paramount

No staggering steps here
No unwashed hair
No night pj’s to spare

Yes, I’m up
I’m dressed
Take me somewhere
Anywhere

How about a big steak?
That should really help, right?
Protein for healing, right?
That will help me feel alive again

It’s no one’s fault
Except maybe the moon’s

Take me to a place of my forgotten memories
Where conversations are free
Where people get to see each other
Where people shake your hand and ask how you are?

Where people take time to live
A little extra easy
In all that living they do so well

Yes, you can take me there~