John-Ward Leighton

SURFACING

Photo ©Copyright by John-Ward Leighton

Photo ©Copyright by John-Ward LeightonThe words kick their way to the surface
and slide past the rain smeared glass
on a journey to which I wasn't invited.

I've dodged the dark master
for nigh on seventy-three years,
I'm there but not there
along for the ride but not moving.

The scene moves on
oblivious to the stolen microseconds
of my photographs
some true, some not.

The dreams flee
as the words bubble to the surface
and I can't play guitar of sing
so they have no tune to tie
themselves to.

Like the rest they slide past
the rain smeared glass
and I take a deep breath
and dive again.

I used to have love but lacked courage
and when courage came
I no longer had love.

My face
puts the lie
to the forty miles of bad road travelled
that shows to those outside
but the view from inside is nineteen year old smooth
and my old mistakes seem almost godly.

I still can't play guitar
even under water
but life still slides by
and it really doesn't matter.

Dreaming and singing with joy
and in righteous anger cursing
just remember not
to talk or breathe
until surfacing.