Words of Wonder – Day 5 – Watching Life Leave

Watching Life Leave

I know it is not the same
As being with someone as
They take their last breath.
But I watched a beautiful
Gray feathered bird
Take its last breath today.
It hit the window in full flight,
Bounced and landed on its back.
Stunned, it lay there for a minute or so,
Probably unconscious. Then it opened its eyes
Lifted its head, looked around one last time
Then gently lowered its head back onto the stones,
Took one last breath
And left this world.
I buried this beautiful creature
Under a young pine tree
With hopes that it would add
Strength and beauty to the tree
In death as it did in life.

Roy W. Backes
© 2022

Words of Wonder – Day 4 – So Low I Got to Get High

So Low I Got to Get High

As one does when one
Is feeling blue,
At least as this one does
When feeling blue,
I often reach for the bottle,
Or I raid the fridge,    
Or I put on the blues
And wallow in the deep.
Today I am so low
I pass up the bottle,
I ignore the ice cream,
I, however, do put on the blues.
As I wallow in the deep
I roll a joint.
I light a match.
I inhale deep
‘Cause today I am
So low I got to get high.

Roy W. Backes
© 2022

Words of Wonder - Day 3 - Kyiv and Philly

Kyiv and Philly

I look at images of Kyiv
On the news and it strikes me
That Kyiv looks very much like my neighborhood 
Here in Philly.
The people drive the same cars,
Live in the same style of apartments and houses,
Go to the movies in multiplexes,
Walk in city parks,
Dance, drink and dine.

When I see Putin’s missiles striking
Homes, apartments, and monuments
I think that it looks very much
Like Philly.  Only in Kyiv, now
Apartment buildings are on fire,
Cars are burned and buried in debris,
The dead lay in the street.

The fight I see in the eyes of
The Ukrainian people
I know is the same
As I have seen here in Philly.
That look says,
You come after us,
You will pay the price.
You will end up bloodied
And in tatters, not unlike Apollo Creed.
Kyiv and Philly,
Not so different after all.

Roy W. Backes
© 2022


Words of Wonder - Day 2 - The Blues Club

The Blues Club

He’s never been much of a joiner.
He never joined a country club.
He never joined the Elks club.
He never joined a book club.
When he met her, he was all in.
He joined her in cooking class.
He joined her in watching The Bachelor.
He joined her in marriage.
He never thought he could be so happy.
He never thought it would end.
He never thought she would pack her bags and leave.
He never thought he could hurt this bad.
He never thought he could be this lonely.
He never thought he could be this blue.

He has never been much of a joiner.
Now, he finds himself a card carrying,
Heartbroken, full-fledged member of the
Blues club.

Roy W. Backes
© 2022

Words of Wonder - Day 1 - In Mother's Arms

In Mother’s Arms

Sitting in the cool of the forest
My back against the mighty maple
I feel safe.
The canopy of leaves keeps me dry.
The canopy of leaves keeps me cool.
The thickness of the woodland
Keeps me safe.
I sit here, my back against
A mighty maple and
Feel one with the Mother of Nature.
She will nurture me.
She will protect me.
She will hold me in her arms
While I relax and begin to heal.
In peace.
In quiet.
In Mother’s arms.

Roy W. Backes
© 2022