Limbering Up

April 23, 2018
by Michael
comments 29
Poetry

Hafiz
with a pick axe.
A coil of rope
laid over his shoulder.
This is a rare sight.
He’s standing in a flood of holographic daylight
which doesn’t cast any shadows whatsoever
because somehow in my living room
the light of three majestic stars has intersected,
and I swear we only ever had one star in the area
capable of this
when I was growing up.
Behind him
a few angels are stretching out in the hallway.
Smoking butts. Touching toes.
Razzing each other.
Laughing with accents I can’t quite place.
They are pointing out the subtle differences
in one another that are known to cause delight.
This one behemoth grabs another one by the shoulder
and pries his right arm back like
he’s about to arm wrestle a silverback
or take the mound against
the greatest hitters of all time
in a 27-inning pitcher’s duel
and he better get the blood flowing.
This is what you do, I gather.
You limber up.

What’s this all about, Hafiz?
What’s with the muscle?

We are going to open up your head, he replied.
And we are going to pour in a much needed bag of sky.

I looked at him
with my tongue balled up in my cheek
like a poorly kept secret
and I shook my head.
No way, Jose.

And if I resist?

He shrugged.
We could leave you be
again for a while.

Hafiz. May I remind you
that you and this gang of hellions
have been living
in the apartment next door
for seventeen months now,
banging pots and pans together nonstop.
Hooting like drunkards.
Playing tackle football or something
for all I know.
Not to mention the howling contests
on the back deck
at all hours.
That is leaving me be?

I’ll confess, he said.
We’re all a little weary,
of your reluctance to join us.

29 Comments

  2. Harlon says

    I thoroughly enjoyed the whimsy in this, and found myself pondering the nature of reluctance. Thanks for the food for thought – snack time! Or maybe I’ll join your neighbours in a late night game of beer pong. 🙂 Peace, as always to you, and your wife as well and I hope she is doing well.
    Harlon

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply
    • Michael says

      Thank you, Harlon. It’s up and down, but all is well. Let me know when you drop by for that game of beer pong and I’ll meet you there. 🙂 Reluctance is an interesting thing isn’t it? We get wrapped up in what we stand to lose instead of seeing what there is to gain, (in this case), and other times it’s listening to our heart. Knowing we really don’t want to be pulled down a particular path, even though there’s an attraction. It’s conflict basically… Inner conflict is what so much of our internal dissatisfaction rests upon. Best to surrender to the raucous neighbors next door and go for it!

      Peace
      Michael

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  5. Alison and Don says

    Chuckle. I note my own fluctuating reluctance. Sometimes it spontaneously arises that I have joined them, and then Alison asserts herself again. She’s so pushy lol.
    As usual Michael your conversations with Hafiz brighten my day and give me food for, not thought, but being.
    Alison ❤

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
    • Michael says

      Thank you, Alison! Glad you enjoyed it. I know the feeling of vacillating from the holy party to the empty room next door where at least we can claim to be in charge… of nothing… Haha. Hope you’re off to wonderful travels. Can’t wait to hear about them.

      With Love
      Michael

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  6. J.D. Riso says

    “And we are going to pour in a much needed bag of sky.” I always enjoy your chats with Hafiz, Michael, but this one is perfect for me today. Thank you.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
    • Michael says

      I’m glad, Julie! Thank you. Sometimes it just works out… It’s awesome when it does. Hope you’ve enjoyed a lovely woodland stroll…

      Peace
      Michael

      Like

      Reply
  7. BeeHappee says

    This is soooo excellent, Michael!! I loved the ending, and the pointing out the subtle differences that cause delight, and the pouring bag of sky. So good to see your poems, a beautiful rare treat, and hang out with rascal Hafiz for a while. My daughter turned 10 on the day you posted this poem and I just realized that its been 10 years since hooting and howling started on the back porch, and in the living room. 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
    • Michael says

      Hi Kristina! What a lovely connection. Awesome. I’m sure your daughter increased the decibel and activity levels quite a bit. Haha. Glad you enjoyed it. It was nice for me, also, to reconnect to this kind of space. I started writing a journal to myself, which I almost never do, just to get the lead out, and the space for this piece just finally opened up. It was a nice experience to write my way into a space where I felt a deeper connection…

      Blessings and Love to you,
      Michael

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. smilecalm says

    oh, your mentor
    side kick sure
    has fondness
    & patience
    for your
    well-being, Michael!
    i’d be willing for that
    head opening experience
    but concerned nothing
    would be found 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • Michael says

      Hi David,

      Have just returned from a week or so away, and am catching up here. Thank you for this note! Yes, this mentor of mine/ours is a hoot! And compassionate to boot. Nothing and everything are kissing cousins, so it would probably be quite a worthwhile exercise… 🙂

      With Love
      Michael

      Like

      Reply
  10. Walking My Path: Mindful Wanderings in Nature says

    This is wonderful! I love this. And I love all the comments. I love that LInda first off said – so join them already. Hahah! I wish they would open my head up and pour in a little sky. Maybe even some rain that I could share with all the trees and birds and animals and plants around here! Thank you for a big smile this morning!
    Love,
    Mary

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Michael says

      Yes, Linda has pegged it to a tee! Your head is full of delicious sky, if I may so Mary. But I do hope you get some moisture. As it warms up here I am thinking of you and your dry winds. Time for some weather-working!

      With Love
      Michael

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      Reply
  11. JoAnna says

    I wonder if there’s an easier way to get a bag of sky into one’s head and if it would keep me from getting a headache from all the banging and hooting and if I could join them for just a little banging and hooting. Hafiz would probably laugh at me, but maybe he’d go for it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Michael says

      He’d totally go for it. Banging and hooting never quite works without someone holding the silence. 🙂

      Thanks for reading, JoAnne. Hope you’re enjoying some of this glorious spring weather where you are. While I was away this past week the Orioles, cat birds and hummingbirds all arrived. So spring has officially sprung in southern Maine.

      Peace
      Michael

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • JoAnna says

        Our weather fluctuates a lot, but most days are in the 70s and low 80s. The Ocean’s still too cold or me though. Not like when I was 18 and swam in March! I know you really appreciate spring up there. Enjoy!

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  12. Esme upon the Cloud says

    “Behind him
    a few angels are stretching out in the hallway.
    Smoking butts. Touching toes.
    Razzing each other.” – Hahahahaha, what a marvellous poem Michael, it tickled me no end, I love your angels and would be in like a shot with a bottle of JD to drink and holy water to offer.

    – Esme enjoying his words a great deal upon the Cloud

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Michael says

      Thank you, Esme! You know this of course, but most of these guys have taken quite a liking to hanging out on the Cloud, where apparently there are all forms of holy water condensing from the ethers.

      PS – Swarn and I had a lovely visit in Pittsburgh this past week. With a few swigs of holy water thrown in for good measure. 🙂

      Peace
      Michael

      Like

      Reply
  13. InfiniteZip says

    I always say, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. I think it’s about time to have some fun there Michael….might learn a thing or three too ❤ that would be a bargain party my friend ❤ can I come? I'll bring the fruit punch ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Michael says

      Please join us, Kim! That would be lovely. Yes, this is a beautiful case of joining them. They won’t take no for an answer anyway. Very patient, these particular hellions. 🙂

      Blessings
      Michael

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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