Rick's Poetry: The Leaves

The Leaves
(c) 2001

My pencil's scratching paper
time is three or four
it's waiting for that special word
that lets it write somemore

It's very close to quiet now
this is when there's peace
while all the prisons sleeping
my mind is more at ease

The light is hard to read by
or write by I should say
just a sliver through the window shade
to help me find my way

My eyes are growing heavy
it's hard to me to see
so I'll go to sleep now
and pause perhaps to dream

Dream about lost freedom
and what it really means
to take a walk outside that gate
and scatter like the leaves

The leaves they blow to and fro
think I'll play upon the wind
and if I go and fly so bold
will it ever end

Or could I stay and dream away
Until I dream again
The leaves they blow to and fro......think I'll play

by Ricky D. McKean

Rick McKean (1962-2011)

Rick McKean graduated a track star from Capital High School in Boise, Idaho. After serving in the U.S. Navy with the construction batallion and operating heavy machinery, and time in abroad in Guam, Rick was honorably discharged and took residence in Oxnard, California, near the naval base.

After working several years in various trades, including light aircraft maintenance, locksmith and auto repair, Rick worked for a paper pulp recycling plant in Oxnard until the late 90s. Expressing his love for the ocean, and despite physical limitations, he took up scuba diving and enjoyed good times with friends exploring the Channel Islands off the Ventura coastline. Rick suffered from depression and alcoholism.

The poetry on this site was written in 2001-2002 while an inmate at California Correctional Facility, Salinas, California. After parole, Rick again took residence in Oxnard, purchased a boat, and lived on the water in Channel Islands Harbor. Continuing his appreciation of nature and the environment, Rick worked in harbor maintenance, patrolling the harbor and collecting/dislodging debris that had washed in from sea.

Rick continued to live on his boat and attend AA meetings and treatment programs, and eventually was issued a driver's license and bought a car. In 2010, he drove his car to his home state of Idaho and visited his family whom he had not seen in many years. Despite numerous physicial limitations, Rick continued to live his life to the fullest extent, including handling nearly all of the maintnenance of his boat/home.

In late 2010, Rick bought a new computer, with the intention to publish these poems online. In January of 2011, Rick suffered an untimely death where he sustained a head injury repairing his boat, lost balance, and fell into the water, and succombed to the cold temperatures.

This blog contains Rick's Poetry.

(c) Ricky Dale McKean 2001, 2001

Rick's Poetry

The Leaves - 2001

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