And yet again
I am that
Bear the boy
Outgrew the bike
The girl forgot
The letter unopened
And the ornaments
Stowed in attic
I’m the deserted
Baseball field the
Empty beach the
Quiet carnival and
The vacant bigtop
I am alone
Once being something
Now quite another
I am but
One blossom in
A field of
Wildflowers one
Tree in a
Wood one snowflake
In a blizzard
And one raindrop
In a downpour
The difference is
That I’m the
Flower in your
Vase the shade
In which you
Sit the flake
Caught on tongue
And the drop
That landed softly
On your lips
And like a
Child on his
First bicycle free
Of feet I
Fly wind in
Hair adventure in
Heart I ride
Down my street
And now turn
The corner and
Down the lane
Finally growing up
Now you’re back
With him like
A lost dog
I found wandering
And enjoyed returned
To his master
We romped and
Ran wrestled and
Rested in prairies
Of lavender though
I’m now alone
I know that
You’re heart is
Singing tail wagging
At being home
And while perusing
The bookstore of
My life I
Happened upon an
All-too familiar story
Of sweetness newly
Discovered in a
Landscape of bleakness
Of quenching rains
Of kindness after
Parching droughted meanness
Of long-awaited holiday
Gatherings after months
Of dark loneliness
It’s a story
Where a crooked
Smile sets to
Light a string
Of otherwise dim
Bulbs you reminded
Me of this
And it’s you
That has become
Yet once again
My favorite story
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 