When I Was No Higher Than My Fathers Knee.

[Guest guest]

When I Was No Higher Than My Fathers Knee

When I was young and no higher than my fathers knee,

I carved my path in the wild woods of every garden realm.

With a bold and breezing heart, I buccaneer’d my way

in swift and winsome banditry, capturing the moon

and stars, and holding the sky as my flighty hostage.

I swift and soared my untamed wings

and set my light feet to the scampering earth.

Climbing every knoll and green hung tree,

the chief and master of my airy magic fairy castle

My song sang in the mold and fungi,

and in the sand dells and glades of tiny gleaming kingdoms.

I rookery nooked in every bough and branch

and love lightly carried me through her.

As time tacked, and becalmed itself to windless loss

it ticked it stuttering pace to lead, and heavy tread.

I was led from my mothers legs into ways that dimmed

my dash and wonder, and fell under the darkening spell

of a world grown old in my darkening sight.

No more did I roam in the enchanting trysts and grotto’s

of my mystery and merry making moments,

but wearied down by my little past,

fell foul for the slithering sentences of age and reason.

Then one long season, I was a man, and that man

ran wild, but was no longer loved by the child heart,

by the secret worlds that turned his soul -

As long he forgot to tell of the love of himself.

And into a world he granted blandly to disunion

he hunted with the long spear of long regrets.

And long he searched for the child he had left behind.

Long was his shadow upon the ground of his sorrow.

Then one last day made perfect by despairing yield,

My love returned to me with spring flowers in her hair.

Upon her brow the cosmos sparkled

as gathered star dust there.

Her eyes were wide, and full open to the found

as sea’s timeless in waves of wonderment and

Her lips ruby red as a brigand queen of charms

Bangles and bells chimed upon her ankles and arms

and it was as if my long walk in this weary world

had never been.

She laughed, and the sky picked up its dress

to dance a gypsy tune.

She curtsied in my soul, and stole my heart away

to make its camp in the milky way of her breasts.

And now my child love is taller

than the shoulder of this turning universe.

I am undone again and free falling as April showers

on the sweet earth of my being.

I pluck the strings of my lilting life, winsome as water,

and run within the world as her laughter.

Finding my love I follow her as my bride to be this me.

and in her chamber is a lighthouse

that shines in every particle, matter and mote

I am her soul again, and her joyful pirate lover

and she the honeyed love songs, I sing for every throat.

love

eric

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