I remember her hairy legs
kicking around in the pool,
laziness caught on like a coat hook,
crept slowly through our lives
as summer slowed heat
ran down abandoned roads

her hands gripped the edge,
clinging to keep balance
and I drew pictures
of monsters running down fairies
as they flickered up out of the water,
shone sun white
and plopped back into the wholeness
of fantasy

a bird landed on the other side,
tilted his head at us
then flew off

"I think we should come out here
after the sun has gone down
and rename the stars."

we smiled the morning way
in response to her witty idea,
joyfully scheming,
full of clever laughter
creating future mischief

shadows of love
never noticing the sky blue
fading slowly to whiter
or the raven caw
the need for clinging,
absorbing

but then,
it was better that way
softer and sweeter,
smelt cleaner
for the stuffed animals
of our lives
that we inhale for comfort