Headline Poem 6/24/14 -- Life

Elizabeth Gilbert's new book The Signature of All Things was released in paperback today. She is promoting it all around the world, and once I finish the eight books I have lined up ahead of this one, I will read it. In the meantime, I reflect on life. 

Life 

I want to grow old

with sagging body and forgetful mind. 

I want the dirt of the earth to 

welcome me home. 

   (Though 

   Not 

   Today. 

I still have tens of thousands of words to read,

signatures to write, 

And miles to explore). 

I know I'm needed. Here. 

In the flesh. 

Where yellow is still yellow, bright and new. Where rainbows appear after a darkened time -- 

colors so bright 

you almost beg again for the storm. 

But. That's not how it works, thank goodness! 

I want to rock wrinkled (one day) on the porch

With a cool drink and mountain view and recall the days of sunburns and stingrays. 

I want to do that with you. 

I want to smile down at my feet, crooked and curved in all kinds of strange ways because 

Ripples are my favorite things. Always have been. 

Ever since I was a kid and 

realized 

Way leads on to way... & that today connects to yesterday. Toes are like that in the end. 

Familiar like old friends. 

I want to complete this life with no hunger inside, 

Not starved or lacking of 

Compromise. 

I want to see me through a looking glass decorated with beads 

and see

A woman who 

in the best and worst of times hung her head so high

People thought she'd fly 

With airplanes and their wings,

Loud, 

led by a pilot trained in loving rhymes, master balancer of speed and time. 

I sleep knowing 

you know me so well. I wake 

feeling content because I believe 

In eagles and wildflowers and paradises on earth. 

I am lucky because I've been alive since birth.