The Lion

Watching Henry figure things out.

henry inserts the wooden lion into the circus train, but soon discovers 

horizontally doesn’t work, so he tries diagonally

the first second third fourth time persistent unperturbed

before by intention

or dumb luck,

chubby fingers shove it vertically and the lion is through,

albeit upside down.   

we will never examine the correctness of this posture.

i am not judge or teacher,

just a witness.

despite the commotion, this room feels like church,  

the sermon my mother’s voice reading good night moon,

golden leaf falling on fallen golden leaves,

and between pages, reverence.

ahead, the work continues. henry gathers himself

to free the lion.