"Mossy Green"
She had asked him if he was a good person
He stumbled at his answer and cracked a little joke that fell just short of distraction
He had stumbled because deep down he truly believed
That a good person could never be so cavalier as to announce their own goodness
The truth however is
That we all grow mossy green atop decomposing things
We’d rather mourn than resurrect
He leaned against the chain link fence
Quietly rolling and turning these words around his mouth and mind
They sounded and felt so correct – his eyes grew wet
At the thought of his own grizzly reaper
Rising, defying the weight of soil intent on mowing down
This recent crop of kindness, honesty, and sincere intention
Exposing the rotten log beneath his moss for the whole world to see
Cast your bread upon the water…
He constantly worried and wondered if there be
Still more moldering loaves floating his direction just beyond the undertow
Yet more inevitable rippling effects
Regrets set into motion such a short lifetime ago
The sky broke blue as he reached the water’s edge
Sun spilling through the still falling rain reminded him of some old forgotten promise
Still consumed by fearful thoughts of future loss
Despite the recent change he squinted
Tracing the arc of color beyond the falling rain
Perhaps if he could blur the moment in exactly the right way – he might
Finally fully recognize the true sum of his life’s deeds
And discover just how close he truly was to being
The good person he believed himself to be
Would he easier bear the sight
Of graceful good fortune waiting just beyond this moment
Or find a more substantial sliver of solace in the familiar
Reflection of more loss marching in his direction?
He blinked the thought away
Realizing of course, that this was a strictly academic exercise
He closed his eyes and carried on as he had before
Believing he was indeed still growing mossy green upon the shore
Continuing to cast fresh bits of bread into the waves
With child-like faith in the man he knew he truly was
These days
About the Author
Author. Poet. Painter. Father of 2.