HeartLines

It wasn’t always like this 
Mind sharp, knife meeting diamond 
Hands in kitchen 
Feet to pavement 
Scoop from the outside 
Of the steaming pastina 
Hours under the golden chandelier 
Mimicked in thick carpet beneath
Games taught, played, remembered
Play the 8 of spades for
It is wild, candy bowl filled with cough drops
Sounds and memories sharp, knife and diamond
Joints now sore, stiff
Knees buckle under the carriage
Of the produce aisle
Games forgotten
Moments fleeting, escaping
As quickly as they come
Life lived catching
Up, time felt in bones
Mind wavering, soft, fuzzy
Ripe peach
It wasn’t always like this
Is this what awaits?
It wasn’t always like this
Four square, concrete playground
Bare feet sink into
Wet grass, leaping, sprinklers
Familiar with the layouts
Of old friends’ houses
Bells ring, school lunch
At tables in the gym
Vacations, temperature warming
Bending over backwards to
Provide life lasting memories
Memories fading, fuzzy
Gaining consciousness to
The realities of life
Finally awake, wishing
More than anything to
Fall back asleep
Will it always be like this?
Sylvia’s fig tree
Broken compass
Smashed pieces, no direction
Brakes cut, attempted
Murder, nowhere to run
Will it always be like this?