Carl & Franklin
I enjoy unpacking boxes and reading more of my adolescent poetry. I got a C on a poem I wrote about Carl and Franklin. “Luke, time to roll up your sleeves and move past the level of a children’s book. While you work hard on rhyme and rhythm, let’s push for more depth of emotion, intellect, and poetic freedom,” said the comments. I agreed with it at the time, and I did end up with a B in the course. But this silly poem inspired this drawing, so I might as well share as my ears turn purple.
CARL AND FRANKLIN
Carl decided it was time
Chose a tree he sought to climb
The one he couldn’t see above
And where he chose to give up love
Toss his heart and rearrange
But....
All of that would quickly change
Just when Carl turned up a frown,
Carl met Franklin upside down
Carl froze up to scrutinize
Franklin felt some butterflies
Both were shocked in high surprise
Gazed into each other’s eyes
High above a spongy bog
A stare between a bat and frog
Entangled with each other there
Franklin hanging in midair
Completely caught so unaware
Carl felt love he thought he’d banished
Franklin thought the world had vanished
Months would pass with frog and bat
Bonding in this habitat
Be it unconventional,
Love made both so bendable
More than three dimensional
Happy and exceptional
Carl and Franklin both ate bugs
Both expected frequent hugs
Franklin tried to hop around
Carl tried sleeping upside down
Years were filled with taking chances
Watching sunsets, big romances
Both could never comprehend
A day that this would ever end
He held his heart beneath a fog
The moment Franklin lost his frog
While such sadness filled his day
It never ever took away
All the love he got to keep
In the dreams inside his sleep
Upside down, in reverie,
Franklin held his memory
Grateful for that unexpected
Moment where they both connected
In that tree, above the ground
That day he met him upside down