—YOU MAKE MY LIFE SEEM WORTHWHILE

summer love

this morning

i’m shedding

the toxic cells

filling the slats

with talons of

rippled sunshine

watching the

neighbor’s dog

pretzel-stretch

in a pool of

white light

on the greenest

lawn

ever

near the most

forgiving

lake

ever

an eagle coasting

through windless air

past my window

like a

blot of

gifted wonder

first boat on the lake

a pair of teens

giggling and handsy

lovers like we

once were

paddling in between

kisses

kissing

in between paddling

oblivious to trauma

disease

or death

invincible

one might say

floating by on the

dregs of an

unshakable wake

as every voyeur

anywhere

watches in mock dismay

jealous as hell

reveling

just reveling

like that