And then it
Came the blame
Not so much
A bark but
A quiet whimper
Almost like fall
Winds rustling through
The dried leaves
We had become
Ownership of over
And finally done
So unlike the
Blaze that decimated
Each of us
At the beginning
Time for winter
Now to heal
And await spring
Why do we
Dance this dance
Why when I
Advance you retreat
Why when I
Ignore you appear
When oh when
Will you and
I be at
The same place
At the same
Time that we
Were when we
Began or are
We supposed to
Fly through the
Heavens simply nodding
As we pass
Each other forever
Bumping into others
That don’t exist
We all make
A mark somewhere
In this life
Sometimes as broad
As shoveling
A path through
Snow drifts or
The placement of
Bread atop refrigerators
That change how
We see things
Or find things
Yet some are
As subtle as
A thumbprint on
Those you love
Sitting here I
Realized that I
Don’t want to
Be famous I
Just want my
Words to come
Ashore as softly
As the tides
As delicately as
Summer breezes amidst
Wildflowers and like
Those crisp overnight
Snowfalls that tickle
Dogs and sledders
Quietly purely simply
My best memory
Of Thanksgiving Day
Was so long
Ago and so
Simple that I’m
Surprised I remember
My mother sent
Me to the
Store to buy
Milk swaddled in
Heavy coat and
Cap I crossed
The playground and
Heard laughter and
Saw families gathering
Like swarms of
Bumblebees hugging golden
Sunflowers and then
As if by
Magic heaven itself
Shed its manna
And the lightest
Of snow began
To fall and
This is what
Thanksgiving means to
Me Happy Thanksgiving
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 