Crystal McAdam

See her Critical Review of Gwendolyn Brooks

From Ireland we came
in through Ellis Island
on to the fields of Illinois
where we planted our roots and made a home
we grew corn and beans
and raised generations of our family

The Daily Commute

Early to bed, and earlier to rise
before the sun, most are gone.
Hit the highway and beat the traffic,
on your way to work today.

Now hurry, hurry, you must find parking;
don’t forget to grab a latte on your way to the office.
Up, up, up you go-
now quick, to your cubicle to start the day.

Phone calls, e-mail, and faxes galore
until you want to scream “No More!!”
You look out the window, and down, down below.
Glance at your watch, is it lunch time yet?

It’s 4:40 now and you think to yourself,
will anyone notice if I just duck out now?
You can get a head start on traffic if you’re out before 5,
so grab your bag and run for your life

Now hurry up and wait through the traffic, lights, and tolls.
My god could this ride be any more slow?
Hours later and you’re finally home.
Now hurry to bed, for it starts over in the morn.

(untitled)

I met you on my first day
You were wearing my favorite, the suit of gray.
Barely taking the time to stop
You thrust out your hand
“Hi, I’m Mike. See you inside.”
All the while looking me square in the eye.

If I had known then what I know now,
I would have known better than to stick around.
We went out to Pittsburgh, that’s where it began
This thing that I thought was my future; my man.
I gave you everything I had;
Stood by you through good times and bad.

We said we’d always be together,
That this was the one thing we would have forever.
You tricked me, you fooled me, you made me believe
All the times that you told me you would never leave.
I should have known then that it was too good to be true.
Forever never lasts, especially with you.

I loved you more than you’ll ever know
And it hurt like hell when I told you to go.
Yet through you I was able to learn more about me;
Things that earlier, I could not see.
So thank you for wanting me to be your wife,
Thank you, thank you for being a part of my life.

Breathe Deep

You walk through the door
Your heart starts to beat quicker
Eyes widen with excitement
When you see the lines, the flags the blocks
Surface smooth as glass
Sparkling through to the bottom
Now close your eyes
And just stand still
Hear the water spilling over
The gentle hum of the filters
You take a breath in
Taste it on your tongue
Smell the mix of chlorine and fresh air
Breathe deep, it’s almost time

What the Wind Says

As I lay poolside in the sun
I think of how different our lives have become
I feel moderately guilty
Enjoying a life of luxury
While you, knee deep in sand
Going weeks without showering
Foreign objects whizzing by your head
Causing your nerves to always be on edge

I wonder where you are, how you are
I wonder what fills your days
I hope you’re happy and that you’re ok
I want to know what it’s like
I want to know you are safe
I wonder when you’re coming home
I wonder how different you’ll be from the man I’ve known

And then I close my eyes
As I doze off to nap
The leaves rustle so gently
And your words tickle my skin

Don’t worry about me, I’ll be just fine
Yes, I’ve been shot at
But never hit—yet
At night it scares me
I’m trying to forget
I’m learning new things
Islam and Arabic
And I promise, I’m having fun
I’ll be home
Just as soon as my time is done

A smile spreads wide across my face
The sun warms my skin
And in my heart, I know you are safe

The stories I could tell…

I have seen the beginning of time

I walked among the Gods of the past
I have witnessed ancient empires rising and falling
I was there the day Attila the Hun fell
I dined with Arthur at the Round Table
I helped build the Tower of London
I took part in the Crusades
I marched beside Genghis Kahn
I watched, helpless, as Joan of Arc burned
I was there the day Constantinople’s walls crumbled
I saw Columbus’ ships find a home in San Salvador’s shores
I am in Da Vinci’s Last Supper
I was present when the constitution was written
I was there the day the towers fell
And I have seen everything, everywhere in between

I have seen life begin
I am, occasionally, the reason life ends

I have seen boys grow into great men
I have watched brothers kill brothers

I have watched you succeed
I have seen you fail

I have been stuck on the tops of the Alps
I have been trapped in the California valleys

I precede all storms, just as
I am the one who chases them away

I am a worldly drifter
I know no home
I have been everywhere, staying nowhere

I am a dog, a rabbit, a bird, anything you want—yet
I am none of these things

And I will be there to see the end

Yes, I could tell some great stories

Dear Self

Life has its ups and downs
No one said it would be easy
“There are two roads you can take…”
Really, your options are infinite
There is no such thing as a right or a wrong path
True, there are good and bad choices
Nothing that can’t be fixed, though
Listen to your heart for
Ultimately, you are the only one you have to answer to
The goal is to not look back on your life and think,
‘I could have done better’
No matter what you do
Know that someone is always there for you
So take flight little one
“Sometimes you have to make the jump and build your wings on the way down.”

Love, Me