When You Were Young

 

You are here. 

You are home.

You are whole. 

You are ours. 

When you were young

And I was younger still,

Summer was fresh air

Windows down

In the back seat

of your two-door sedan,

Talking non-stop down

Sun-baked pavement

Headed to the park or

The music store. 

When you were young

And I was younger

winter was

leather gloves, wool caps,

and down coats. 

At the fish fry spot

Regulars line up

for the haddock special. 

You walk as if you 

never stopped,

Climb porch steps

like they aren’t there. 

Wave “thank you,”

open the door,

disappear into thin air. 

When you were young

And I was younger still

Autumn was a festival

With coats, mittens, 

Cider and crafts,

With pine cones and

Deer in your back yard

Trusting and fearless. 

When you were young 

And I was younger still

Every spring was new.

Coloring eggs,

shopping for hats. 

Home after dark,

your smile relaxed,

Meets headlights 

like halos. 

You walk as if you 

never stopped,

Climb porch steps

like they aren’t there. 

Wave “thank you”

open the front door

disappear into thin air. 

You are here. 

You are home.

You are whole. 

You are ours. 

[fade]

You are here. 

You are home.

You are whole. 

You are ours.