One poem by MICHAEL LEE JOHNSON

GRAYING IN MY LIFE

Graying in

my life

growing old

like a stagnant

bucket of

rain water with moss

floating on top-

Oh, it’s not such

a bad deal,

except when

loneliness

catches you

chilled in the

middle of a sentence

by yourself-

ticking away

like an old grandfather clock,

hands stretched straight in the air

striking midnight

like a final

prayer.

**

MICHAEL LEE JOHNSON lived ten years in Canada during the Vietnam era: now known as the Illinois poet, from Itasca, IL. Today he is a poet, freelance writer, photographer who experiments with poetography (blending poetry with photography), and small business owner in Itasca, Illinois, who has been published in more than 875 small press magazines in 27 countries. He edits 10 poetry sites. Michael is the author of The Lost American: "From Exile to Freedom", several chapbooks of poetry, including "From Which Place the Morning Rises" and "Challenge of Night and Day", and "Chicago Poems". He also has over 74 poetry videos on YouTube.