Umbrella
written by: Julian Matthews
I am of the great unwashed,
a weather-bender, nomadic tenter,
polyester pop-on, undercover companion
I am upright, rain or shine, on a crooked handler,
a man-made bloom like an overnight mushroom,
a shape-shifting twirling transformer
I am velcroed in an unassuming roll,
a sleeper agent until triggered by a click
and Voila! I change from listless pole
to erect parasol, a shaft sprung into action,
ready to roof and prove my loyalty
to head, crown and citizen of one
I am spoked and spoken-for, my owner a loner,
but sometimes a shared loaner for a twosome,
caught in a failed forecast, an upturned
craft crossing puddles as if it were the Rubicon
for a clandestine liaison, diving into a safehouse
like swapped spies coming in from the cold
I am the purposeful, prophylactic protector
from the pelting downpour, determined to shield
my wary ward from any sudden exposure
If cornered in a chase scene, teamwork
is of the essence as we conjure up cover
to counter and deflect the liquid ambush
I am the streetwise sidekick, a trooper in any storm,
until the crisis is averted, then shaken
and stirred and rolled back into anonymity again
I am the stealthy spook some may overlook,
the brotherly brolly that when in doubt,
you should never leave home without
- Spotlight On Writers – Julian Matthews - July 4, 2026
- Umbrella - June 20, 2026
- Opener - March 10, 2026
