50+ Lifestyles

A Pause for Poetry

By Gary Heath
Poet in Residence for 50+ Lifestyles.

Long Ship Passing

Last time I saw the river, up close I
Mean, standing on the riprap shore,
Taking in the air, I knew you were
Gone. A long ship passing, receding
Round the bend, and I knew, really
Knew, you were gone this time. The
River brought me the present from
The past. Immersed in the flow of day
To day, hard to see what is right there.
Long ship passing, our time passing,
Now gone. Long ship round the bend,
Goodbye, long ship passing, passing
Round the bend, long ship passing,
Farewell.

I Am Leaf

I am leaf, green in my verdant prime,
Glory of warm days. I prosper in
Warm seasons, glad tidings to winter
Eyes in spring, life greens facile under
Me. I bring picnics on broad lawns
And shade them cool. Hikers pass
Under me, I ease their way under the
Sun. I give oxygen for life, without
Me there is no breath. In fall I fall in
Thrall to autumn breezes that swirl
Me to my fate. I am leaf, of the tree of
Life, I rise in green and fall in bright
Colors and blow away as leaves always
Do.