The Park (re-written & formatted)

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jwesley
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-04-30

Posts 7563
Spring, Texas

0 posted 2012-07-20 09:33 PM

Kisses woke me.
Tongue-licking, sloppy, wet kisses,
slathered across my face.
Damn dog! I thought, as I rolled to the left,
wiped my face with the sheet,
fully prepared to kill Buster,
our all-breed mutt.

I rolled back,
eyes open,
hand raised for the kill,
but it was your face I saw
behind the teeth of an enormous grin.
Anger ebbed,
but the urge to lay you out lingered ...
an urge that died
when you kissed me,
hard,
passionately,
and sprang back to life
when you leaped out of bed
laughingly closing the bathroom door,
shut.

I rolled back over to swing my feet off the bed,
and Buster laid one on me.

My god,
how could I ever mistake yours
for his!

Buster, get the ...

Now, now, you said from behind me.
Mustn't upset the animals.
They're the only buffer we have
between us
and today.

Yeah, today.

Can't forget about today.

We skipped home-brewed,
opting instead for Breakfast Taco,
a cup of Dark Roast from Chick-fil-lay.
Carry out... to go.

Later we pulled between the parallel, white lines,
a parking space,
just footsteps from the edge of the lake,
ours,
the only vehicle in the lot.

We got out,
car doors sounding obnoxiously loud
when they closed.

We sat close
on the concrete bench
in front of the car.
We ate,
sipped coffee,

Quietly.

I threw a piece of taco to a sparrow
on the ground below.
He rushed to it,
picked it up, flew away.
three others chasing.

Quietly.

Today it all seemed to be happening ...
quietly,
solemnly,
just like it should.

I looked at you,
your eyes held mine,
tears brimming.
Our foreheads touched,
our lips moved in agreement ...
the time had come.

You took my hand,
we rose from the bench,
you led me back to the car.
I opened the back door,
unbuckled the seat belt
restraining the burnished, silver urn.
I held it tight to my chest
as we walked through the dew covered grass,
past the swings,
another twenty-feet or so,
to the lake.

And there we stood for a long, long time.

Later we left the empty urn on the table
for anyone who wanted it.
It had served it's purpose.
It's job was done.
Our child was forever in the place she loved so much.

This place,
with it's little lake,
it's swings,
picnic tables,
sparrows that would eat right out of your hand.

Our little girl was where she always wanted to go.

And now, our little girl could forever play ...

in the park.

© wesley james beard, jr.
july 2012

Note: not about me.

[This message has been edited by jwesley (07-20-2012 11:30 PM).]

Klassy Lassy
Member Elite

since 2005-06-28

Posts 2187
Oregon

1 posted 2012-07-20 11:18 PM

I felt all of this from the teasing to the tears, with the undercurrent of a purpose and then release. I have come close to loosing my children, but not as children--adults. I still can not imagine saying goodbye to them. This poems marks a special day, a special person, and a gift of love. So glad you shared, and that I could read. Angels to keep her!

Startime1955
Senior Member

since 2012-04-22

Posts 1072
Alberta, Canada

2 posted 2012-07-21 11:33 PM

Oh my gosh...this poem went straight to my soul...I wept for your loss...stunning writing...it is easy to feel your heart and soul in this one...*BIG HUGS*

*may our dreams ever be magical*

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-16

Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA

3 posted 2012-07-22 02:09 AM

Wonderful writing...James

Honeybunch
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-12-29

Posts 7115
South Africa

4 posted 2012-07-22 02:48 PM

I'm mindful of the fact that although this is an extremely moving piece it's not as heart wrenching as the experience. My heart goes out to you.

Helen

MICHELMAS
Member

since 2012-02-15

Posts 305
Lancashire England

5 posted 2012-07-23 11:04 AM

I can feel the 'quietness' of the loss

Michael

suthern

Member Seraphic

since 1999-07-29

Posts 20723
Louisiana

6 posted 2012-07-23 12:12 PM

Mustn't upset the animals.
They're the only buffer we have
between us
and today.

I'd gone my own way with these lines, so the tear ducts were already primed... and still the ending slammed into my heart and broke it.

What a powerful, poignant write! You've told the tale so many have lived and told it with grace, compassion and intimacy. Beautiful work!

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