II: A Fool’s Composure
It started long ago
way before you were old enough to know.
You see, there was this man;
a righteous man
who worked hard, paid his tithes and
NEVER,
NOT EVER
talked bad about anyone!
He Never,
NOT EVER
cheated on his taxes, his wife or anything in life.
He saw the good in the bad;
the glad in the sad.
People thought him quite mad.
Asking, questioning,
“How can he be so cool?
What a fool!”
Though his wife cheated,
he was not defeated.
Though his kids cussed,
he showed no disgust.
Though his boss never appreciated,
he never felt berated.
Though his finances were meager,
he worked remaining eager.
Folks thought he strutted round like he had the key to a city,
a township no one else had.
They said he pranced like a peacock - chest out as if boasting,
“I deserve notice. Look at me!”
As if his eyes were locked and focused on some imaginary clock
whose hands conveyed
a message in Morse
solely to him.
“How can he be so cool?
That fool!
How can he appear so composed
through it all
while pitifully and nakedly exposed
to life’s fall?
What gall!”
Neighbors chatted and guffawed
behind his back.
He never seemed worried,
never felt slack.
Though his Momma passed,
he had an appendectomy,
He was an outcast,
his new wife had a hysterectomy,
Not disgusted
he still trusted!
Yet not knowing why,
his head stayed high.
His focus, his eye
remained steady
fixed and ready;
as if he knew a secret
that no one else knew;
as if he heard a song
that no one else heard;
as if an Angel’s words
were the only words
whispered in his ear exclusively
on the wings of dragonflies hovering near …
“He’s lost his mind.
No, he’s a good actor.
No one can be that cool
lest he be that much a fool!”
To have all of that against him,
yet he sports
the widest grin
of sorts…
What does he know that they don’t know? What can he see that they can’t see? “He is one happy moron. God bless his soul. Poor pitiful one. His head has a hole. through which his first and last mind has oozed out, no doubt!”
Pt III: Life’s Defining Storm.
Dark days came for all.
Not one man withstood
the floods as he should.
The rains poured.
The winds howled.
Nature’s empty belly
growled…
as if hungry for a feeding! His wife scattered; so too did her kids. They were flung to and hither by gusts of howling wind. His boss begged and pleaded.
“But look at my life’s works. Oh God, please spare me!”
Yet the floods showed no mercy.
His neighbors without opinions or possessions now,
laid scattered about like broken toys in a chest;
a broken bough.
He remained calm through it all! Taking his key, he pranced like a peacock to the one place remaining unscathed by the life’s defining storm. His head steadied, his eyes focused. The clock’s hands on the building signaled in Morse where and when he needed to be.
Dragonflies whispered reassurances that all was good.
Though he witnessed catastrophic events: the end of the world, the day of reckoning, he remained at ease with that most incredible grin. Through the door he passed. In fact, it swung open suddenly when the key made contact! Stepping in made his insides jubilant, blinded him; stole all words from parched parted lips. His eyes burned yet no tears flowed. His heart pounded loudly but dragonfly flutters blanketed all sound. Beyond the doors of this lone standing building was a brave new world! Knowledge of a second chance revealed long ago fueled his widest grin. Inexplicable visions steadied his focus. Stars flickering in his day and night sky kept his head angled high. The dawn of each new day excited him, made him rise. Pain dealt to him for no obvious reason taught him how to endure, forgive and, forget.
