Welcome back to Member Monday.  It’s a pleasure to feature a poem by poet, storyteller and children’s author, Linda Boyden.  You can purchase an autographed copy of Linda’s newest picture book Boy and Poi Poi Puppy at the Writers Forum Author’s Fair in November.

The Old Man in the Park

by Linda Boyden

the old man sat in the park

he sat there alone

body stuttering

shivering in the sun

under the weight of his age

and

the old man sat alone

behind him

squirrels darted down trees

scurried around trunks

tails to heads

in a dizzying frolic

and

the old man sat alone

while

near him

children squealed

ran from each other

jumped from swings

skinned knees

tumbled in and out of laughter

and

the old man sat alone

from time to time

his fingertips fluttered

as a sound

sparked

a memory into motion

a dark circle

inching in transit

across his mind

filling his heart

with a smile.

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