
Used To Be


I saw her there, waiting for ice cream
On a hot July afternoon
Two tiger lillies tucked behind her ear
Live and larger than life
I expected honey bees might encircle her
No one told her no
No you cannot wear flowers so large
Not behind that ear, at least
So orange
So alive
She’d not have heard anyway
She seemed otherwise timid and small
Waiting for butter pecan
An intended respite from the heat
No wonder that not long thereafter
The cumulus clouds
Which mimicked her blooms
Exploded
Bursting forth their relief
Her relief
Our relief
Bring me long shadows
Unorchestrated, lingering glee
Wait while I watch us all exhale
Healed now from last week’s barrage
Listen with me, will you?
The fight-song building
Gather up we, the sun-spilled relief
Before we march again
why this day remember back
why see it sealed in history’s white book
when fire and oil must’ve met?
the first time the light streak heard its thunderous voice
no -the unexpected, accidental, fated brush which brought blush
then quiet laughter and hard tears at the relief of it all