It rained last night
An unusual deluge
as if a celestial pitcher
filled to overflowing
had been emptied all at once
It drummed on the roof
on the awnings
on the earth
that opened its parched mouth
and drank deeply
It woke me and I knew
I awoke again in the nascent dawn
and reach for his arm to feel it flex
then stretch over his head
creating a harbor for me against his breast
his arms around me
a comforting harbor that brought me out of the black sea of
sleep
a safe anchorage for the day ahead
I reach for his hand
my fingers remain empty
tears moisten my eyes
I stand on our patio
the sun’s crescent crashes against the shores of night
and I watch it rise until its brilliance blinds me
Then I look out
across our yard
and wait
Suddenly
from a dozen tiny holes in the sand
they begin to rise
At first in twos and threes
then a host
a myriad of tiny bodies fluttering on gossamer wings
ascending in a cloud
that looks like ragged lace fluttering in the gentle breeze
A dragonfly appears
darting quickly
he steals a tiny body
then another
His sister joins the feast
and his cousins
and his friends
The lacy cloud is soon
rent asunder
The dragonflies disperse
flashing brilliant colors in the sunlight
It is over all too soon
We watched this together
for fifty-two wonderful years
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