JOHNMICHAEL SIMON POETRY

I find

this evening as if

a gift from some wise child

has suddenly dropped into my lap

 

And when I examine

it carefully and ask

how does the world look

in your eyes this evening

 

I recognize the answer

childlike but wise as only

a voice uncluttered by role playing

could enunciate so clearly

 

I’m seventy five next birthday

 

And the child inside

the one hopping and skipping on its way

to the school library

soon to be reading Great Expectations

or Robinson Crusoe for the first time

answers back

 

Well this is a good time

to take another look at the world

the joy and the discovery

of opening a new page

to slowly mouth the words

popping like bubblegum against your tongue

 

Once upon a time…