First Day at Blacklock Nature Sanctuary

 
   

For Marc

Who knew I'd start crying
when I kissed you goodbye yesterday?
You said don't now so tenderly
tears sting as I write, but this isn't
a sad poem.  I saw a Monarch drink calmly
from an iris this morning,
her folded wings one more petal.
I know that I love you like I know
rain is good, but it took
your sudden dearness to remind me
I'm a leaf floating on the surface
of that mystery.
Later, I watched darkening pine trees
shaken to wild grace by wind –
wind that touched everything.

(This poem appeared in my chapbook, Like Saul, and is in my full-length collection, Prodigal.)

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