Peer respond
Reach Out
Set on a high shelf
three steps ahead
glinting atop a towering mountain
it'll always be far, having fled
you stretch
you try to reach
your wishes, goals, hopes,and dreams
so close that you can taste the sweetness of each
sometimes,
in order to get what you want
you have to take a daring leap
sometimes,
you've got to take a chance
you have to take the plunge
because,
even if you do fall, you can stand back up
but, if you stand still, you'll always wonder,
what would've happened if I'd've jumped.
Rules
don't touch
don't taste
don't stand
don't run
don't ignore
don't distract
don't imagine
don't speak
don't create
don't think
don't learn.
don't stand out
don't laugh
don't love
don't stay up late
don't sleep in
don't be
don't
do not
not
no
no
no
yes
yes
yes
go
yes, go
yes, go and
yes, go and smile
yes, go and run and trip
yes, go and feel the sun
yes, go and taste the rain
yes, go and think about the stars
yes, go and create worlds without end Yes, go and write a poem
yes, go and dance to a song you sing
yes, go and get dirty
yes, go and eat a whole cake
yes, go and talk to those you like
yes, go and meet new people
yes, go and learn how a plane flies
yes, go and wear a penguin costume
yes, go and travel
yes, go and eavesdrop on your brothers phone call
yes, go and distract your mom with a hug
yes, go and be
yes, go and be
yes, go and be.
The world is more than rules.
for, if you only followed rules, how boring you'd be.
Backyard Make Believe
the sun glitters, playing hiding and go seek with the clouds
the air is hot and sticky, but I do not care.
the green of the fields brushes softly against the emerald of the trees
birdsong, cicada cries and frog chirps swirl on the wind
the fairies I can almost see flitter from one flower to the next.
A golden crown of clover flowers sits atop my head
the trees just beyond my walls hold lion and kelpies
I hear the soft sounds of the fauns
my sisters stand as royalty beside me
Heave! Ho!
ahead, just through the clouds shining like diamonds
our destination! Sunburst Island!
older brother, now turned first matey calls for more speed
I monkey down to the boosters,
careful of the drop to my death below
younger sister and I swing and swing till we are soaring through the sky
we are cloud pirates
I pick at the measly scraps
greasy hair and dirty fingernails
wild onion and carrot sleep nestled in my dust pottery bowl
being an orphan is hard
we must eat though
there isn’t much else