I haven’t seen you
In weeks it seems,
It must have been a whole month I guess,
But I always see you here
Under these trees
Watching your family grow,
For all of these years,
And mine, look! Can you believe?!
We never really have truly connected,
Like at a dinner party or a road trip or a baby play date,
But we’re always so polite,
But somehow my day doesn’t seem finished
Until I’ve seen your smile here
With a bag full of tomatoes and grapes.
Sometimes I can’t even think of your name.
Though I’m sure it starts with a K,
And even though I wouldn’t be embarrassed to say,
It doesn’t matter,
Its not your name I need.
It’s your smile.
It’s your face.
And its quiet at my house on a Sunday,
Still and safe,
I could easily hide away in my secret garden, sprinkler on, baby play,
But I will risk it to steal away,
Just for an hour or two to see my favourite sunny place,
With a breeze and some trees and my own personal ocean roar.
It’s worth it,
If I’m quick,
And the sun doesn’t hit me like a brick,
To traipse around the shade,
And smile with friends and strangers,
Make a new friend,
Get some bananas.
Debate the needs of my pantry,
Stand and wait for the stragglers.
“Come on mum, I’ve gotta pick up my hydrangeas…”
it’s a sweet day,
and I don’t always make it,
but it makes for a healthy feast,
and a fun family trip
and a family legacy, started long ago,
that I hope remains.
