for a stoneskip of a second
I’ll recall those happy times
stored safely and so clumsily
in the houses of my mind-
across the street form lonely
lived a curlyheaded king
who filled my heart with happiness
and stories of everything
with a serious expression
and a tangerine in hand
he steeped his tea in thoughtful seas
and wrote poems right in the sand
and every day that passes
with each precious leaf that falls
across his favourite autumn
I will wander and recall
his naked gentle readiness
to know me as I am;
he loved the lion in me
like it was just a lamb
his heavy hurting grudges
against this child world
that in turns tore and cleansed his heart
with every flag unfurled
his pure and ageless wonder
such joy in me instilled
that to this day try as it may
my soul will not be filled
but my king has flown his kingdom
as every good king should
and left his queen alone at home
guilty, misunderstood
unraveling the mystery
of love when it decays
of stars that cease to shine their light
of faith when it betrays
sipping on your sax solos
opinions you held dear
waiting for th day to be won
by conqueror or year
caught by surprise I find myself
approaching a slow end
as melted destinies collide
with used and wasted friends
but for a stoneskip of a second,
I’ll recall our happier times
when worlds did not have endings
and hope was not a crime