Index Blinks
by Odin Roark

Blink

Morning’s kitchen sun,
Me sitting in the sink,
Rubber ducky floating,
Mother’s hand,
Ocean’s sponge,
Cotton’s towel.

Blink

My cowboy foot,
Dad’s cupped hands,
A lift onto the saddle,
Top of the mountain,
Just Red Rider and me.

Blink

Spit shined shoes,
Slick backed hair,
Sash of merit badges,
Youngest Eagle Scout back then,
Proud smile felt forever.

Blink

High school yearbook,
Student Prince,
Singing the lead,
So much applause,
So little fear.

Blink

Challenging college,
Fraternity craziness,
Music major pressure,
Girl friend escapes.

Blink

NY or bust,
Broke and scared,
Acting school,
Singing coach.

Blink

First money,
True Detective mag cover,
What a pose,
Fifty bucks.

Blink

Cruise ship crooner,
Poor pay,
Rich food,
Bonus tan,
Shipboard romance.

Blink

Career growing,
Lessons nurtured,
Rewards harvested,
End game disappointing.

Blink

Marriage too young,
A child too soon,
Growing up too demanding,
Reflection too…

And so it goes.

Just a few blinks,
But they’re our blinks,
We own them,
Life’s set up,
Conflict,
Resolve.

And…

Like book chapters,
One always leads to another,
Beginning pages move ever forward,
Not really knowing the end.

When your eyes no longer blink,
When they’re finally ready to close,
Savor memory’s words slowly,
For they make up the only book that matters.