Surrender

Surrender

By John R. Greenwood

No fight remains

Flag of white up high

Sickness overcomes

An unarmed man

A week-long battle

Throat-devil won

J.R.G.12.3.10

Entwined

Entwined

By John R. Greenwood

Tangled in life

We weave a twisted path

One day hanging by a thread

The next

Dreaming in midair

Freedom and flight

Hindered by strings held by others

Work and play twisted tight together

No room for error

Sky-blue hopes just inches away

J.R.G.12.10.10

Invisible Child

Invisible Child

By John R. Greenwood

Dear child,

If you missed the

Chance to swing your feet

Sit right down and take a seat

I’ll start you off and push you high

Point those toes up to the sky

Leave your troubles on the ground

Dream your dreams

Do it now

Like a moon and a jumping cow

Invisible child has now been found

J.R.G.12.8.10

Quiet

Quiet

By John R. Greenwood

Background tick of a nightstand clock

barely heard in silence roar

Body-aches seem louder now

when given preference above the sound

Creaks and groans deep within the home

mimic stomach growls and snapping bones

I must decide if music comes

or does this silence

serve the same?

J.R.G.12.3.2010

Awaken Shaken

Awaken Shaken

By John R. Greenwood

Swallowing hard, pains like a pine-branch

caught halfway down

Sweaty shivers and throbbing temples bring back

memories of school days missed long ago

Peeled back blankets reveal hesitant bodies and

wobbly legs whimpering to return

Ice filled ginger-ale glass soothes a

crusty fire-coated throat

Returning to bed I curl up and burrow deep like a

winter-ready black bear

J.R.G.11.7.10