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 is a former family therapist, joke writer, and fruit huckster. He started writing poems in high school and has never stopped writing and publishing. His books include Magical Yogis, Awkward Grace, The Asthmatic Kid and Other Stories, Junkyard Souls, and Rain on Cabrillo. Mark and his wife ride the bike lanes in Long Beach, California, when he's not writing. See more of his work at - Crow On The Wire.
Latest posts by Mark Tulin (see all)
- Cries Echoed in Silence - April 18, 2023
- With Each Sip of Ceylon Tea - October 3, 2022
- Rocking Chair Wisdom - July 9, 2022
