Swinging

There's something so soothing and mind-numbing

about the wind pushing your hair back

and then letting it go wild,

the chink of the chains

that smell like

old pennies,

and

strange feelings

in your stomach as it begins

to protest to the unnatural movement:

back and forth...back and forth--higher--even higher--too high...

and you lower, back and forth. The whoosh of the wind whispering in your ear

a secret only you can know if you take a ride on the old plastic swing. You can see only forward, but you tilt your head back as your eyelids lose strength and you swing.

As your arms pull the chains for momentum, your legs propel beneath you--

swimming through air pushing--pleading to go higher...please.

Your neck lulls back, sighing to the lullaby

of Mother Nature's breath,

just like a cradle.

Maybe that's why it's so calming--

it takes you back to your younger years when swinging was second nature,

and recess was centered around a set of chains and a plastic seat--a portal to the good days--days when all you had to worry about was the fight for the last blue otter-pop;

those were always the favorite.

That's why swinging is ten times more enjoyable now--

you can let your worries leak out of your ears and just swing--

leave the world behind, or just stop it for a while--and listen to the lullaby

as you gaze into Mother Nature's big blue eyes...

back and forth...higher, higher...

so monotonous,

but sometimes monotony

isn't as bad as people always claim him to be--

at least he's predictable...back and forth...

I like the feeling

as my navel is pulled

by an invisible string--up--

then pulled again in the opposite direction--

down--back and forth...whoosh, but always gentle, smooth.

I like this feeling,

swinging,

I jump on my time portal,

and let Mother Nature tuck me into my cradle

as she sings that all-too-familiar lullaby,

and I drift off

into somewhat of a dream

as I let my cares dissipate into space

and let my mind focus on the sweet flavor

of the blue otter-pop

on my tongue.