Nana's Bones

Summer comes upon us with the
ghosts of Mabel and Harry
as the wind in the Birch tree releases the
adventure of a green, green season,
the sun travels the course of
steering us both clearly into future
years of love on fire.

With as much granite myths
about how much fun it is to be fifteen,
it is now as easy to pass sixty as it is
to still enjoy life in the summer of '92
when we first met
with an exhilarating fascination.

Just the other day, he shaved off
much of his beard again,
and I had to think:
does he know the taste of the fountain of youth
on a humid evening when we cruise
across the bridge downtown
off to the Mall for a new pair of
rose-colored glasses?

More, he has always had principles.
I've quit smoking for good,
and he's breathing better.
Just as a poisonous lizard that finds you
at an ancient speakeasy
often it is just an excuse.
Excuses can only come when you
can't find the time.
With tears and shame, so does the
rain run hard to heal.