moments

it’s strange to exist in a moment
that you know will change
the course of your life
irrevocably and without
guidance of your own

usually these moments
blindside you so swiftly
you don’t see them coming
nor do you feel the effects
until days later
like a dull ache in your back
in your heart
in your head

sometimes you don’t know
the moment was even significant
until you feel the loss of it
months down the road

you mourn for a time
you didn’t know you were
ever going to miss

these are the times that shape us
but the growing pains
are quick and sharp

growing

the sound of a sleeping cat
almost lulls me to slumber
but not quite
i sit
tired and weary
happy and hopeful
plans have been laid
things have been let go of
like stings of a kite
in the wind
bright diamond
blowing away
until nothing is left
but a memory

there’s too much proof
in this world now
of things in the past
digital photos
stored in encrypted archives
written word
imprisoned forever
in impersonal domains
how do you let life
flow on naturally
with these unnatural
reminders of what should
be carried downstream
while you hold onto
a branch
not yet ready
to be swept away

water erodes everything
in its path
but we have built shelters
impervious to the persistent
pelting of the rain
water cannot eat away at
things it cannot enter
and now
inside
it’s jagged and dry
there are no smooth edges
yet everything is green
everything is growing