This Morning, One Moment

A maple tree flames, catches fire

As the sun slowly slips over the horizon

The cross-country runners lap the track

The world continues to glow

Shooting golden rays over the frosted blades

I am reminded of the movie, Dead Poet’s Society

Autumn leaves trigger scenes of prep school boys

Crossing manicured lawns, school books under their arms

Captain, Oh Captain, Robin Williams, the blue twinkle in your eyes

Knox Overstreet, Richard Cameron, Steven Meeks, Pitts and Dalton

Puck, Ariel, The Tempest, Midsummer’s Night Dream

Make your lives extraordinary

There will come a time when you must choose

Which way will you go, who will you follow?

Plotted on the horizontal and the vertical

—or to some other drummer

Will you disappoint the status quo,

Lead a revolt, stand against power

Run you own race?

Pay tribute to the ethereal gods of nature

Of poetry and dance—

Oh, Captain, my Captain!

Follow your heart!

In this one second of standing still the tree

Flickers and burns, and I—

I walk on, full of resolve and—

so many memories.