Which Is Of Course The Miracle

Which Is Of Course The Miracle

there you are

(west) walking across your

manicured lawn your bare

feet cool in the dew

here I am

(east) wiggling my toes in

rubber boots puddle-jumping

across faded concrete

which of course

is the miracle

two coasts

two conjectures

                one inclination

if I stand still

you are dancing

if you sit down

I am on the move

there you are

(west) smiling through your

                homesickness

here I am

(east) standing on guard listening

for your laughter on the wind

which of course

is the miracle

of our bloodline

**

If someone were to accuse me of extreme sentimentality right now, they’d be one hundred and fifty percent right. Father’s Day really put a knot in my belly, and, after writing TJ’s birthday poems, I can’t seem to stop writing odes to people I love: first for my Mama, now for my darling niece Chelsey. She recently gave birth to her first child, my little lightning bolt Ayla Grace, and got to spend a little bit of time here at home, on loan from her new post in Sylvan Lake with her love. She is the little sister I always wanted and feel so blessed she was put in my life's path. I value her friendship and admire her resilience and strength even thought she’d be the first to deny owing either of those attributes. This wee poem is a small celebration of our bond, hanging off of the same branch of the family tree. I miss her a great deal now that she’s stationed back in Alberta so this is just a little something, capable of reaching across the miles and the interwebs to express my deep affection and gratitude for her.

Tell your people you love them. Better yet, show them. Today.

In propinquity,

Nic