Of course, we had been been warned. Elbowing in
winter would end the rest period. We found
some music in the names of winter stars,
Aldebaran, Rigel, and Betelgeuse,
and bundled up the baby girls in down.
They’re hewing to the growth curve, God be praised.
They’ve sketched a couple Hebrew letters, way
ahead of schedule, and brush baby teeth
without much urging, days floating away,
we thinking these days will be ours for good.
Should it turn out in the end we don’t get
the drift, what with the dunes pointing the way,
the handhelds should steady us on the course.
And if the time comes later to retire
these irons we’ve been swinging all these years
without expert advice? We can adjust.
The near mists fusing, hills fading away,
a few miles to the east, the eighteenth green
will beckon once again. What can you do?
Of all my misspent years in Mexico
this is the best. My girlfriends seem to be
uncommonly patient. Kisses are free
all summer long. Long after happy hour
we hold hands, certain that we will endure.
*For Courtney & Eli*
I.17.2015