Chris Bickel

Chris Bickel was born and raised in Ventnor, NJ and is a long-time educator having been a teacher, assistant principal and currently a supervisor of social studies. Chris is also an amateur photographer and enjoys pairing his writing with imagery and inspiration from nature. He resides in Essex County, NJ with his family. You can follow Chris’ work @oceanseer on Instagram.

Frayed Rope

I’m watching you type rote words

for a rule you had no part in creating

words that will land nowhere

forever tired

forever exhausted.

I’m watching your vision wear down

ever so slowly waiting to be set free

and gaze upon landscapes so grand

tears would flow

like a waterfall from your eyes.

I’m watching your fingers and hands

strike a board for hours and hours

while I know they long to hold

wildflowers being born

and soil, freshly moved by worms.

Hands, that for some reason

want to rest on rope.

Rope, I laugh…

What kind of rope?

The kind of rope

that can both dock and set free

boats of imagination

into the world.

The kind of rope you now hold

watching it fray.

Watching it unravel.

Worn by the salt of the sea

I’m watching you

and waiting for your fall.

And since you won’t let go

the rope will.