TALL

So, I forgot to say yesterday, that that poem (The Invisible Man) is not aimed at anyone specific! It really isn’t; I was trying to express an emotion simply, that I’ve felt before, and I thought it was relatable.

Today’s however, is aimed at someone specific. And I think it might be the longest poem I’ve written. Yesterday’s wasn’t personal; today’s is very much so. But don’t panic. It’s about me, this one, struggling and writing a letter to God about it.

Tall

Dear God of creation

I thought I should write

To tell you that I am...

Well I’m really, alright...

With the way you designed

Me, I’m thankful, you see

Cos I think that you did

A good job,

making me.

I’m okay with this nose

And my sparkling eyes,

And my fun sense of humour

And love of surprise,

And I love how you made

Me, quite smart on the whole

With a rhythmical heart

And a musical soul

But God there’s a something

I wondered about

That gets me, sometimes

And it causes me doubt.

See, I’m given to thinking

Well. I’ve often thought,

Did you really intend me

To be quite...

this

short?

Oh God of creation

I’m sorry if I

Am complaining or

Draining the tears from my eye,

But it’s just that in photos

I look really small!

As I’m beaming away

Under metres of wall!

And my friends who were there,

Seemed the same height as me!

But somehow it seems

They were all six foot three!

Did you really design

This condition at all?

Was it your great intention

To not make me tall?

Did you mean me to

Feel so embarrassed, so red

When the lads used to natter

Right over my head?

Oh God of all comfort!

It’s never seemed right

When jokers and pokers

Make fun of my height

So I reach for the mugs and 

I stretch on my toes

For the top of the cupboard

Where crockery goes

And I can’t see in concerts

Or work out who scored

When the crowd go bananas

I can’t see the board.

Oh I can’t look... imposing

I wish I could choose!

But I just look so silly

In big clumpy shoes.

So God, I was thinking

If it’s okay with you...

Could I wake up tomorrow

And be six foot two?

Could I suddenly shoot

Like a flower in spring?

Could I grow just a bit

Oh, would that be the thing?

Hmm

I guess I should somehow

Remember that you

Have always been perfect

In all that you do.

Like David, I know that

I’m never alone,

I’m broken and chosen,

A smooth river-stone,

And maybe the lesson

You’d like to impart

Is less about measures

And more about heart

So God will you help me

To see like you see?

To know there are giants

Still shorter than me?

To walk with the kindness

That grows with this love

That reaches the earth

And yet soars high above

And God of creation

High over it all, I’ll

Be really grateful

That I can

walk tall