These days........

Sproat Lake in February

These days
I often find
my thoughts
returning
to dusty mesas
dotted with dry scrub
along the arroyo
through dry, sandy gorges
you once told me
was a river long ago

In reverie
I circle sleepy rooftops
finding yours
where we made love
one afternoon
your face so dark and beautiful
above me
those summer days
that ended
way too soon

Those days

you were an eagle
soaring/captive
caught somewhere
between the earth
and sky
while I caught my breath
and emptied out my being
into the wonder

of becoming

you and I

Now my spirit

sometimes walks
on summer mornings
-dew-fresh scent

of tall marsh grasses,
willow trees,
fresh lake ripples
lapping gently
on the shore-
the scent of

all the mornings
I remember
and I long to walk

beside the lake
once more

In memory

you turn
your slow smile

on me
always a bird
alighting on your hand
I hear again the coo
of doves at daybreak
and somewhere -
another time,

another land -
"Blackbird" is singing

in the dark of night
while two lonely seekers
try to hold their pain

at bay
by clinging

to each other

way too tight
unable to find words

to make it right
and somehow

lose their way

The dove

lost its mate

and flew
but keeps on
circling
circling

back to you
never very far

from where you are
if you

but knew

Through all

those years
I saw your beauty

plain
and now I am

remembering
remembering
again.

The single step

that started
my long journey
the thousand miles

it took
to bring me home
all I was

searching for
I found
within me
forever now
without the need
to roam

I have one more

hug
to give you
in this lifetime
one more time

to see
the smile start

in your eyes
if we never

meet again
know I have

loved you
as no other
all the seasons
of our lives