Mike Bailey

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Cool crisp morning by the shallows
The lake surface as unmoving as the mountains that surround
In those shallows a lush banquette is prepared
The stillness is broken by laughter,
                                           Shouting
                                                   Running
Camera shutters click, children run, giggling with excitement.
I am alarmed, the children are too close
The moose lifts his head.

Monologue

Who are all of these people?
What are they doing in my bedroom?
Did I let them in?
Why do they not answer my questions?
I speak,
they look,
yet they do not answer.
At last someone I recognize, he will help.
He will set it all right.
He will clear the room and we will talk.
You are holding my hand and speaking. I can see the concern on your face.
I tell you I am fine.
I speak, but your concern turns to pain. Why?
I told you I am fine. I will tell you again.
You look like you may cry.
I speak again, listening to myself, … what did I say!
I know what I meant to say, but that is not what I heard, oh God not that!

A Helper Meet for Him

The neighborhood is different, but the pressures are the same.
Wife, five kids.
The only steady work? Labor Ready!
A different work place every day.
Some days no place at all.
Yet, he holds his head high.
He loves his wife, he loves his kids.
Her lips are red their cheeks are rosy.
In their eyes, the light of hope.
A quite dignity in the struggle.
A loud satisfaction in meeting the rent.
A sustaining joy in playing with the kids,
And a steel strong bond with the helper meet for him.

Another Convoy

The constant low grind of gears.
Same as every day.
So loud you can barely hear yourself think.
Forces you into your own world, not a safe place to be in this country.
The seats are hard, will I be able to stand after this job?
Always so loud.
Always so hot.
Always so dirty.
Always so alone. My throat is hoarse.
Always the danger.
Funny where I put the danger?
We have stopped, but too soon!
Did I just see a cow blow up – a suicide cow?
I could have been beside that cow.
Not a dignified way to go – suicide Cow.
Same as every day.
The constant low grind of gears.
So loud you can barely hear yourself think.
Forces you into your own world, not a safe place to be in this country

GRACE

The weight of my wrong.
My head bowed.
His hand lifts my gaze,
His embrace so sweet,
kind-freedom in His eyes.

RUN-AWAY

Room alive with youth so empty.
Gone.
Driven away?
As the room, so my heart
until she is found.

SUE-CHARLIE

Water white with power,
cascading down the gorge.
Straining to hear through noise and mist.
Calm and quite on the ridge above Sue-Charlie.
Peace.

MISSOULA

No one to call,
no where to go,
isolated, lonely,
sadness filled heart,
song in the night.

GRANDSON

Smiling face at the bottom of the stairs.
Too young to walk,
curiously driven to more than a crawl.
Long day at work.
Suddenly, joy from the bottom of the stair.

UN-MISSABLE APPOINTMENT

Friday at noon
five friends lunch.
Laughter rules the time.
Depth consumes the surface,
safety is this time.

Darkness at noon
Streetlights in the day
A river of rain through
Asphalt banks
Sunny again.

An entire town shut down
Three feet of snow in one day
Calm, quite, alone,
Midnight.
Will I be the only one at work?

Wind surfing on a beautiful lake
Strong constant wind
Every bone in my body…
Could losing to a truck feel worse?
Bed.

A lake in the clouds
Mountains make the shoreline
Dark, deep, blue water
Yet, I cannot take my eyes off of her
Her laughter fills…were there birds?

Around every bend…
another bend!
Twenty people, ten canoes
A sunny day on the Current.
Deeper friendships than I ever thought possible.

In my message, a small voice.
My grandson calling to thank me for Christmas.
He sounds like his mom must be standing right there, then—
The excitement explodes as he exclaims;
The Lightsaber is “Totally Awesome!”
I know I will remember his voice, his excitement, his joy, forever.