The Day

The day you said, “You must come visit, it’s about time!”

And the day I arrived and you reached for my hand

“The water hole, this way!”

I drafted behind your wilderness wisdom

Like a fawn in frolicky pursuit

A path of stone steps you made

Meandering up

And then down the embankment

Each stone artfully and affectionately embedded into earth

In tow we strolled

And arrived, just in time for the moment

That spot

The synchronicity of old times eternal

3:30PM

When the sun flickers the river’s July brrrr

That spot lit up, so divine

Good timing, Sylvia! Or my bottom would’ve frozen!

We dipped daintily

In that wild womb of wonder

Big sky overhead, we dove under

Then whirled in the air

To the rhythm of the aspens’ fluttery flare

Upon our return,

The cabin’s Tibetan flags beckoned the breeze

The day I asked and the day you said with assertive ease,

“I have realized I’m smart.”

And I said, “Yeah, you are!”

Your tales of penguins, travel, history and art

Gusts of knowledge from you to me

Our family heritage you painted on plywood

A landscape of lineage and lore, take note of time’s wide open doors

The day we walked the land, and you said, “Watch out for goffers!”

As we heard them barking and bouncing like spazzy wack-a-moles

Footsteps sage-seduced at dusk

The day I followed you up Piggott Peak

“Today we’ll climb to see the butterflies!”

And then a silent following void of voice

So spirit could stroll in our pace, our space

Where the landscape of our heritage

spoke with Ponderosa whispers, feisty and wise

And the smell of butterscotch wafting our path

Your most recent science surge of Carl Sagan

The day you said, “I think I’ve figured it out.”

The day I responded, “What’s that?”

“Everything is so big, but I count.”

Yes, you do, Aunt Sylvia, yes, you do.

This poem is dedicated to my Aunt Sylvia. Thanks for reading, and for considering a clicked heart, comment, Pledge and Tip if you so choose. See more of my writing and info about me here: Jessica Amber Barnum