Today

Today I needed a break,

From what, I’m not so sure.

Instead I was bombarded,

Friends at every door.

I watched shows until my head hurt,

Tumbled till I cried.

Then I had to give it up,

And take a step outside.

I laid upon my wooded porch,

With forest at my back.

Looked up at the sky,

Wondered what I lack.

My Inoue lay beside me,

A companion, not a pet.

Exactly what I needed,

Though I knew it not, yet.

Then soon she had departed,

I was left alone,

To think and to listen

To sounds other than my phone.

I listened to the roar of bugs,

The cars that passed us by,

The wind amongst the leaves,

Clouds drifting in the sky.

They whispered of their melodies,

Harmonies unique.

When others might hear dissonance,

I heard a thousand speak.

They shared with me their wisdom,

Just as passers by.

They told me of their heartache,

Of seeing loved ones die.

They spoke of generations,

Lost within it all.

They warned me that I couldn’t try,

Or else I might fall.

Yet up I went and grabbed the swing,

Nestled in the tree,

I jumped, held on,

Yelled silently: “I’m free.”

Then I settled down,

I held onto my knees,

I pulled myself close

And begged for comfort “Please.”

Then my phone went off,

I answered in a flash.

Back to the world,

Break’s over, back beneath the lash.