Will C. Brown, Jr.

Will says, "I was born and raised in Syracuse, New York. I joined the Air Force in June of 1989 and have been in ever since. I am currently stationed at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina where I work as a Network Security specialist. I have been dabbling in poetry as far back as I can remember, but only started seriously writing about two or three years ago. I semi-regulary attend open mics around Charleston. About two years ago I hosted a monthly poetry open mic called "Soul Speak".

Will also hosts a fine, weekly poetry podcast called Cloudy Day Art.

 

Red Ball Bouncing

 

I do not hear the familiar

Playground-sound resounding

Red ball against black-top ground

Sound

 

The kickball slowly bounces down

The walkway

Quickly stopping to rock at my feet

Fore and aft

 

Staring for a moment

I remember

I regret

I want

 

The crisp fall breeze

Chases the dry leaves

Past my feet

Where the red ball awaits patiently

Rocking fore and aft

 

It beckons me to touch

To re-engage its flaws

To enjoy a playful bounce

Like two former lovers

Reuniting in a Waltz

 

The wind shifts slightly

The ball rolls back

Quietly

Reversing its silent bounce

Like a video rewound

 

I hesitate

I reach

I burn to run after but

I realize I can not

 

Though the past is always present

I presently can not change

That which has already been done

 

Grasping at imaginations

And longing for reconciliation

And crying out for justice

Leaves me with just this thought:

 

A mind that can not let go

Has nowhere to go

Stagnant

Broken

 

Like that red ball

Rocking fore and aft