Me

By John L. Swainston

PROMPT — The way I see it ...

It is a rivers water that

I want to be

Not knowing where I am going

Not caring where I have been

I am here, now

The rocks that I traverse have

seen so many like me

The fish, turtles, bugs, all

benefit from my being

Greet each one and move on

---

John L. Swainston started writing poetry at age 76 to cope with feelings of isolation during COVID. He learned the craft by taking Zoom classes in poetry and writing at Turning Point, a cancer support organization. His first book, Memory Box, was published in 2002. He has had over fifty poems published. His first poem was published in the Journal of Expressive Writing. A poem that was published in Veterans’ Voices Magazine received the Editor’s Choice Award. John is a retired Finance Executive, College Professor, and Army Veteran. He writes from Gardner, Kansas.