Learning to be Gentle
This is much harder than it sounds.
In April, day dawns chill, west wind
sweeping rain, but by mid morning
sun spreads a bright blur across
the sky, warming past comfort as
you duck through crowds. So many
young, angry faces, such a miasma
of rage and pain. Women barely
emerged from girlhood stride,
shoulders back, faces smeared with
contempt or slouch slowly as aged
dames, eyes blank as newly painted
walls. Young men strut their battle
walks as if collision would mean fists.
You slide through this swirl of flesh
tethered to earth, breathing to rein
in your weary, disobedient heart.
— by Steven F. Klepetar
Copyright ©2012, by Steven F. Klepetar. All Rights Reserved.
Steve Klepetar teaches literature and creative writing at Saint Cloud State University in Minnesota. His work has received several nominations for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net and his latest chapbook, “My Father Teaches Me a Magic Word,” has recently been published by Flutter Press.