Love

Lovingly, Lovingly, gently down the stream…

by ZacharyWGilbert

Love, shaped like a red heart pillow, lovingly rolls down the staircase of life,

It bounces and twists, gets dirty, tears on carpet tacks, and is stained by strife.

Love, encased in fragile shimmering silk, is a drying river, flowing in time.

The clock cryptically marches,  eroding hearts warm red hue,  into dull gray slime.

 

When love, is lovingly encased in a tender moment, and offered, wrapped in joy.

A girl, whose world is vast, and heavy with burdens, may, just may, love a boy.

Time, lovingly  honored, steady clock hands, carve lovers initials, deep in the tree.

Relationships, lovingly loved, though stitches and faded patches, another year, may see.

 

Marriage, a fragile creature, that fewer and fewer, lovingly fight for, may die in history.

Love, a fish on dry sand, suffocates under a blanket of mist, trapped in realities mystery.

Forgiveness’s waters, sacrificed in cold splashes, and drinks up the dry sandy ground.

Lovers fight, against, what will be lost, and for, what will be kept.  Love, lovingly found.

 

Copyright © 2017 Zachary W Gilbert

 

Dear Mom…

by ZacharyWGilbert

Mom,

This March, you will have been gone for nine years.  Remember your granddaughter?  You held her in your fragile hands, she was only a few months old, and you only had a few months left.   A year after you were gone, I cleaned up you art studio, I kept expecting you to walk in and yell at me for messing up your stuff.  I gave  your yarn to Robin, she is an awesome mother-in-law to my little sister, just like how you were to Jackie.  I quit wandering around lost with jobs.  I went back to college and finished, I have an awesome career now.  I make drinking water, just like dad does.  We talk shop all the time.  He misses you everyday, but he stays busy, and he loves all of your grandkids.   You have five now.  My son would make you laugh. We lost two pregnancies before he showed up.  We almost gave up, but I am glad we didn’t.   I am going to be 56 years old when he graduates high school.  I tell the joke that everyone will  think I am his grandpa.  “Hey your grandpa came to your graduation!”  Then he says, “That’s my dad.”  Maybe I won’t look old.  Silver hair is scouting my hair in single strands here and there.  My hair is still there, so I don’t care what color it decides to be.  I bought a new sports car.  It’s not a midlife crisis.  I have always loved fast cars.  Just like you did.  If you are gonna commute, then you get to drive what you love.  I don’t know if you know it or not, but you set me up very well.  You made me strong.  I hope you are proud of me.  I wish, God would let you call me, but I see you in my dreams sometimes.  You are young, and healthy.  Sometimes you just watch me play with the kids, quiet, with a warm smile, I would imagine you would be doing the same thing, if you were here.  Sometimes we talk about non-fantastical things.  When I wake up and can never remember what they were.  That old crazy standard poodle, Molly is still alive.  She is like a ghost hanging out in skin and bones.  I think she is worried about dad.  If she passes away, I think we get him a puppy.  I also think he is worried about retiring.  I am trying so hard to give him a chance to.   Jackie and I have been landlords for 5 years.  It is hard work sometimes, but we are good at it.  My kids have a great life, all those years of hard work you invested in your family is paying dividends.  I tell my kids about you, and how wonderful you were.  Sorry, but I tell Jackie all the time you were an amazing cook.  I miss your food.  I guess I always thought you would teach her all your secrets.  I had so many plans, and ideas, of you making cookies, and painting with grandkids.  Cancer stole you away from me.

 

I hope you are doing well, I love you.

I miss you.

I hope we will meet again someday.

 

-Zachary

 

Copyright © 2017 Zachary Gilbert

Red Rose

by ZacharyWGilbert

The red rose,

its scent…  organic, pure.

its color… deep, soothing.

its feel…  soft, fragile.

its sight…   red, petals.

 

The red rose,

hopes for, loves renewal,

gains strength, outside of holidays,

lifts spirits, holds hearts,

and soothes souls.

 

The red rose,

passion takes shape,

loves, domestic currency,

paid in full,

as the petals fall.

 

Copyright © 2017 Zachary W Gilbert

Exposure

by ZacharyWGilbert

Hearts glow, strolling down lovers lane.

They don’t get far, because they die in vain.

The sun beats down, so hard on love.

It falls on hot concrete, with fates, hard shove.

 

What protection is there, to keep love alive?

Is the destination ever reached on 4 ever 4 ever drive?

Exposure to abundant obstacles, limit loves flight.

Fights, hurt, yelling echos, deep into the night.

 

Somehow, the finish line somehow get crossed.

They make it to forever, and love is not lost.

Listening, and sacrifice of self, for sake of her.

Problems, and wrongs, become a hazy blur.

 

Exposure to pain

Exposure to loss

Exposure to love

Perseverance the cost.

 

Copyright © 2017 Zachary W Gilbert

 

 

2017 Act I, Scene 1:

by ZacharyWGilbert

Narrator:  A light turns on in a simple office.  One man sits waiting at a desk with a lone envelope laying on it.   He is wearing a clean suit.  Another man enters.  He has coveralls on, oil stains cover on his boots and pants.  Smoke rises from his shoulders like hot steam.  Mud is caked on his face.  He has been hard at work, but that is about to change. 

Manager: “Hello, go ahead and have a seat.”

Mr. H.: “I hope this won’t take long I am really, really, busy.”

Manager: “Are you feeling, overworked?”

Mr. H.: “No sir, not at all, I am feeling under worked.  I am busier than I have ever been.  My phone never stops ringing.  My commissions this year are going to be well beyond seven digits!”

Manager: “It is interesting to hear you say that.  Are you proud of what you have accomplished in your career?

Mr. H.: Yes!  Yes I am, and I have so much more I want to do here.  I have found my way into so many accounts.  People are using the hard work I do everyday!

Manager:  It is interesting you mention people.  Because that is why I asked you into my office today.  I feel like you have done enough in this company and it is time for us to go another direction.”

Mr. H.: “Whoa!  Wait a second!  I provide perspective, guidance, and help people see the truth!”

Manager: “If there is any truth, it is skewed with anger and bias.  It can no longer be tolerated.”

Mr. H.: “What am I supposed to do?  I have worked here since the beginning!  I have helped empires rise, and solved countless social problems.  Killed many, yes.  Hurt countless numbers, yes.  But, I get results.  You need me!”

Manager:  “For many years, management, did think of you as; essential, necessary, even fun.  But now.  Now is different.  Your services were never needed, and now you are no longer wanted.”

***  The manager, slides the envelope toward the man.  ***

Manager: “This is your severance.”

Mr. H.: “What is this?  This envelope is empty!”

Manager:  “We are giving you, exactly what you left all of us with, Nothing.”

Mr. H.: “I’ll be back.  I’ll get you for this!  You better be ready to pay with you blood!”

Manager:  “I have no doubts that you mean that.   Just remember, we will be ready for you.   Would you like to meet your replacement?

***  Another worker enters the room wearing clean work clothes that look new ***

Manager:  “Ohh great! They already have you set up in your new clothes!  I would like to officially introduce you.  Love, this is Hatred, he is the worker you are replacing today.  Everything he had at this company, I want you to take over, and we are hoping that you do things, your way.  Not his.”

Mr. H:  “He will never last!  Why wait!  I am going to kill you both right now!

***  Hatred pulls a gun and aims it at the manager.  Love grabs the barrel, and hatred dissolves to the floor in a white mist like seltzer tablets in hot water.  The dirty work clothes and an oily stain are all that remain.***

Manager:  “As I told you earlier Mr. L.  You may be overworked for awhile.  Mr. H. left you quite a mess to clean up.”

*** Curtain Falls ***

 

Copyright © 2017 Zachary W Gilbert