Freestyle
by ARHuelsenbeck

a squirrel scampering

Photo by Jaël Vallée on Unsplash

with a pearl pampering
all the while tampering
clamoring and bantering

despite a verbal deferral, Matsuya
got himself stationed in Fallujah
he won’t be making any moolah
all he be doin’ is sayin’ boo-ya
if he come home, Mama say
hallejujah

when he cut the cord umbilical
he thought he’d reached the pinnacle
instead he fallen
to the bottom
of his proverbial autumn
not to be critical
or overly political
the flower he de-blossomed
was all but forgotten
until she became hysterical
what an intricate predicament
that required a fine instrument
to extricate the excrement
increment by increment
and fashion something infinite
to be marketed by a syndicate

I always wanted to learn to skate
but sketchily I procrastinate
another place, another space
skating becomes my specialty
skating is my identity
essentially becomes my face
too late and vanishes without a trace

The Hymnwriter
by ARHuelsenbeck

Photo by Ben White

the singer desires to
write a humble hymn to
honor his God

to thank
for mercy
for forgiveness
for grace
for blessings
for joy
for peace

he borrows ancient words
from sacred scripture
rhymes them in new and unexpected cadences
pours out his heart
in plainsong

he takes his guitar with him
hanging on his back
and climbs an urban mountain at
dawn and as the
sun rises, his notes
rise to the One who
made him and redeemed him

the sinner offers
his sacrifice of praise