ephemera

startled by the gathering flight

of all those black birds chatting in the trees

memories stirred of falls gone by

and the breezy dusty rustlings overhead

I looked up and remembered

some things I have collected:

a six year old girl paused in that same spot

noticing all those birds and a little afraid

of their multitude and drop dead cries

seeking comfort in lockets of my hair

and the smell of the red reindeer cap I’m wearing ~

my red-haired niece with miniature hands

inspecting something for a first time

a crumbling leaf’s texture or maybe some small stone

turning it over again and again

in curiosity with a hint of recognition ~

that first curious kiss in the space no more between

but closed now….and yet so wide open

with wanting pouring in first tasting my I love you’s tongue

and the beginning of something hard, but worth it…

the quickening butterfly that was savannah

as I lay in bed one chilly morning

praying it wasn’t yet another dream

memorizing every small delightful thing

in that glorious autumn’s day including ~

swarming grackles laughing at me…