She remembers feeling whole

inside the strange wool coat

with a fuzzy muffler and warm hood.

The way the night looked blue,

the way the snow sparkled 

just as it settled on the road. 

It may have been a forced march

through childhood 

but she always knew 

her body was not her own to keep

and what lay beneath

was something without a name

that would always be hers,

in a place with green and florals

and lots of birds on the wing. 

it’s the starlight 

even somewhat hidden in the fog

it’s the Beatles song

the umbrella in the corner 

the map of a forgotten city

it’s the afternoon cup of tea 

with warm comfort of citrus 

the canvas bag of books

the mystery bookmarked for later 

it’s the memory of holding hands 

while driving with the world passing by

the evening peepers

the lyrics to an old standard

it’s a big old moon

larger than life

enduring longer than any dream

Nothing special, no named constellations.

Just a fuzzy view of a tree and a few stars glittering in the night sky.

A fire crackles warm and low enveloping a few square feet around us

forming a make-believe world. 

Years have passed

and the only way I can tell is how I ache when I wake

and how blurry things get more quickly without rest.

I am content knowing we see the same sky no matter where we are. 

.

There is no secret behind the light,

no magic potion to keep us upright,

no answer that would satisfy.

But the fire crackles when we give it something to burn. 

mail order doesn’t take 4-6 weeks anymore 

but the wait feels different 

when you know how time can be stretched 

.

across rainy days 

just listening to the drops 

through fields of lavender 

in no hurry 

watching the clock 

when cookies are in the oven

waking to find you’re way older 

than you thought you’d ever be

. 

sometimes you realize you’re not waiting 

but passing the time 

because it’s the same as it ever was

grasping hands in the night 

without knowing what tomorrow holds

without knowing the weather 

without saying a word

.

letting the dreams we hold

carry us to morning