the first decade

It’s been a while! I woke up with this poem forming in my head, which has never happened to me before, after a week of reading poetry and Peace Like A River by Leif Enger. I started writing it down and then sat with it for a while, editing it a couple weeks later, and then letting it sit longer. It came while I was sick and not exercising as much, and that also felt like a gift, to recognize that I am sometimes more open to creativity when other doors to joy are closed (like swimming or running). We celebrated our 10 year anniversary this summer, and you know, everything is grace. Hope you enjoy. 🙂 

the first decade

I have held tightly to you
this last decade
your body solidly unchanging
in quiet strength, like the elm tree
in the front yard while
my flesh has waxed and waned
as the children have come
and come and filled the house with shrieks,
laughter, thundering feet.

so often I am looking down
at the crumbs – a constant deluge
to be sighed at and swept away –
but when I breathe deep your love
I see the leaves of the elm are that bright yellow now.

I watch as they lift and fall
effortless in that journey toward the lawn
where they will be raked into flaming piles,
tossed jubilantly skyward again.