I looked down and saw my
Teal blue pants and
Atop, the turquoise of my tunic,
A sudden shift and we were
Walking on the Mall
In another life,
Summer heat puffing up from pavement,
Slim navy teal blue skirt
Floating about my legs,
Turquoise shirt with pale russet
Flowers, in retrospect peonies,
I think,
Peonies,
Short sleeves rolled up, cuffed,
And collar slightly standing.
I wore sandals bought in Paris,
Fifteen years I wore them.
But none of this is necessary
Save to manifest when
We were young,
And improbable was possible,
Color setting off the cascade
Of his arms, his energy and wit,
His red hair and his recklessness.
Driving on the country road
Those days and months with him
Collapsed into a second's pause
On time's ever-shortening path:
There in the empty seat beside me,
In that tan plaid flannel shirt
He loved to wear,
He sat, alive and present
As anyone could be,
"Here beside you," he said to me,
And vanished into memory.
RIP David 1950-2007
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