the gingerman 

i 
guess i  
was safe 
too 
young 
to hurt 

you 
thought 
i could 
smoothe 
the crow's feet 

your  
pain 
and frustration 
of little boys 
grown old 
still pulling 
the wings off 
what 

they 
don't understand 
and are afraid 
of growing up 
now playing hooky 
with greater 
science and 
crueler wit 

bars close 
breakfast left 
untouched  
in the morning 
light caressing  
the emptiness 
left   
where life 
has traversed  
so fully
realizing

i  
couldn't 
give 
you 
wanted. 

-jbk1979  
rev26february1998