Rocking Chair Wisdom
written by: Mark Tulin
@Crow_writer
On a quiet night
with crickets chirping,
the older man relaxes
on a front-porch rocking chair,
watching beetles
with lanterns
light up the sky
Finally, at his age,
he knows better
not to chase after things,
and collect fireflies
in Mason jars
with punctured holes
in the lid
He doesn’t pull wings apart,
nor curious about how they look
up close—or feel the need
to see how the bug responds
to captivity
The man is wiser than that—
knows their blinking bulbs
are temporary,
to be valued and respected
just like his life—
and not to stop
the light from glowing,
but let it fly free.
Mark Tulin
Mark Tulin is a retired family therapist from California. Mark’s books include Magical Yogis, Awkward Grace, The Asthmatic Kid and Other Stories, Junkyard Souls, and Rain on Cabrillo. He's featured in Weeds and Wildflowers, Still Point Journal, The Mindful Word, The Haight Ashbury Literary Journal, Amethyst Review, Vita Brevis Press, White Enso, and other publications. He is a Pushcart nominee and a Best of Drabble. He can be found at his site: Crow On The Wire.
Latest posts by Mark Tulin (see all)
- Rocking Chair Wisdom - July 9, 2022
- A Couch Along The Wayside - April 9, 2022
- Awkward Adolescent Words - January 21, 2022
