Fade to Nowhere

I’ll just fade into nowhere

my past like a flare into the night

I don't dare

because of the fear I feel

that no one saw

the brief burst of color

in a night sky filled with satellites

broadcasting another game

another 80’s movie

or rerunning a game show

I’ll just fade into nowhere

this moment like a flare into the sky

Stranded on an island

searching for a rescue unit

in an endless blue of

ocean and sky

not a cloud to be seen

or rain to come still

my thirst for something

more than all this space

I’ll just fade into nowhere

my future like a flare that won’t ignite

The wick wet from

tears I’ve tried to

dry with your love letters

and mail from the strangers

who seem to know

nothing of me

but want everything

I’ve built this life with

I’ll just fade into nowhere

I’ll just fade

Fade

I’ll just fade into nowhere

6 a.m. Flight

I’m traveling from Grand Island to Madison

Off the Wing

 by way of Dallas

A clear sky

  the horizon wrapped in a rose colored ribbon

I can see the fields crisscrossed with roads

The land spotted with ponds and streams

Streetlights visible from small towns

 like spilled salt on a dark table cloth

By now my family is starting their morning routine

As are so many other families below our plane

I can see the day unfold

 beautiful from 20000 ft

But I start to wonder about the things I can’t see

  I can’t see the hungry child looking for something

  to eat in the bare cupboards

 I can’t see the dad sipping coffee as he makes

 his daughter’s lunch, she doesn’t like the school’s chicken

 I can’t hear the teenage son yell at his mom

 knowing it hurts her but he is so angry lately

 I can’t hear the dedicated teacher order her coffee

 the excitement of a new lesson spurring her to school early

I can’t experience the thousands of stories unfolding beneath me

as the curve of the sun rises from the horizon

  Slow and steady

  Making me squint to watch the darkness fade away on this new day

I smile as I text my family to have a wonderful day

For a second I understand the cliche

 that this life is a gift

 and through the joy and the pain

 it is my day to live

Then my phone vibrates

 “U 2 Dad”

I wrote a poem...

I wanted to write the greatest poem of all time

but what did I know of life

I am only a father and husband

a friend

a dreamer

a poet

a man standing at the center of his life

What could I share with you that would connect to your everyday life?

I wanted to write the greatest poem of all time

but what did I know of pain

I only have my past and heart

my blood

my failures

my loss

a man still hurting from his life

What could I share with you that would connect to your everyday life?

I wanted to write the greatest poem of all time

but what did I know of answers

I am only a lonely soul

a heartbeat

a breath

a moment

a man made like no other

What could I share with you that would connect to your everyday life?

I wanted to write the greatest poem of all time

but what I wrote was this poem.

A Present

They say this life is a present…

But I can't find it.

I'm scrounging under the tree like a four-year-old.

Trying to find which box is mine.

Where is my name?

None of the tags reveal the present to be mine.

I see all the colored boxes.

I even shake a few.

So many beautiful bows

 and colorful paper.

I would be happy even with a small box.

For some reason, Santa has forgot about me this year.

My stocking is empty.

There's not even coal.

The fireplace sits cold and dark.

the cookies are gone from the plate.

I know that Santa has forgotten me this year.