A Day Trip to Rockport with You on my Mind

And as I sit on Browning foliage

Neath a tall oak in the woods of our home

As I stare through waving sun-dappled leaves

And embrace, absorb and wholly inhale

This beauty: aging life of trees and roots,

I think of what I miss most of gone days

My naïve, eager self in shadowy time:

It’s love. I miss the rush of summer wind

The crisp bite of dark night and skies of stars

A walk on wet sand as sun peaks and falls

Bringing pink. You by my side, eyes bright − love;

I touch tough living bark of this tree, here

And wish to feel your soft hand on my skin.

This simple beauty, so evident yet

Provoking, so present, so poignant, slips

Through my sweater, skin, blood into my soul.

This autumn day of woodland solace, calm

And sun-specked forest, virgin sweetly bloomed,

Of fluffy webs caught like masts in blue breeze

Of pine and maple turrets murm’ring soft

Whispering words of lofty observance,

This day of nature’s worldly heaven brings

A tear to my eye, for as grateful as

I am to have my back ‘gainst this steadfast

Massachusetts tree, I grieve to the brush:

Would you were sitting here with me.