For Them

He holds his head

anchored by the heaviness

of knowing

Staring into her eyes

the blue fading

misty gray from all the tears

Decades they remember

sharing the same window

high school sweethearts

Consummating love

in the tall grass

beneath a pale moon

Bowing trees paying

homage to the dark

where the years lie still

waiting to be born

The children came

one after the other

filling the tiny cabin

Rooms were added

love grew strong

an unbreakable bond

only death could sever

He holds his head

anchored by the heaviness

of knowing

He will leave it all behind

no choice was given

the fight now

draws to a close

All the weapons

piled high

useless armor

against the enemy.

She runs her fingers

through the few strands

remaining, still loving

as she waits another day

knowing soon she will

have to say good-bye

The River (for Ella)

The River

(For Ella)

Don’t you hear it?

The sweet sound

of her slumber

between the white sheets

breathing of sun from a noonday sky

where she hung them

as the wind whipped and lashed

the fairness from her face.

She stared toward the river

feeling it pulling her back

to that day when all above was

blue and still, until her heart

tore when she heard his cry

knowing she couldn’t save him

from something so deep.