i will never rise high enough

i will never rise high enough to call the rise an ascension
of deeply spiritual proportions
that finds paradise…
not the stuff i am made of.

i am a lowlands creature tangled in lowland vines
and tall grasses
none of which can rise higher
than moral entanglements.
perhaps i should rethink this thing
called paradise.

i have been told
nothing there will eat you
there are no cruel children rhymes
there are no skinned knees
there is no reason to try to imagine more
even if you have less imagination than most.
the sublime is brilliant.
there is no reason to plan for anything else.

here in the lowland vines and tall grasses
there are plenty of fears
but i can live with that
because i get to live with hope
because hope does not exist in paradise…
why would it
even exist as a concept or sentimental memory
after all every issue has been resolved.
i think i am where i belong.
i hope things are going well for you.
i hope to see you again with your dramatic smile.
i hope this message reaches you in time.
everything here is in bloom.

if not shoes then other things

they were implied threats
disguised as encouragements
because of the threats that they had lived through.

the ones who have come from these families
understand exactly what that means
if they survive.

when you are impoverished there will be
used shoes that are not too used
to be given as a gift.

shoes that are too used still have to last longer than their heels
when there are no presents coming.
if not the shoes then other things…
you become the one who is
ugly and awkward
awkward and ugly
awkward
ugly
a prisoner transported
through the town in an open cage
with parents who do not want to talk about it.

when you have to know

when you have to know
which emotions within you are wild
take them for a walk to the feral side
and see which ones chew through the leash
but that is not enough to really know…
see which ones think nothing of breaking
their teeth while chewing.

Learn more about Walter by clicking on his bio: https://thievingmagpie.org/walter-heineman-bio/