POETRY

For C in 1982

photo by the author

A certain awkwardness
In newish shoes
Which get pulled out and put on
When hopes are high and expectations…
Expectations are exciting

I think her name was Caroline
She of the shy sideways smile
Her shoulder against mine

But whatever else went up into the sky on an Indiana night
A bird flushed from its hiding place
The wisps of smoke from the fire
Laughter, and words you can’t quite make out
Blond hair cascades over the collar of her cardigan
And the strange way she’d say my name