how many times

have i sat   (facing west

to watch the gold-rayed sun

beyond oaken

softly darkening   green cast

hills)   in the  

company

of colin's grandfather   his

long silences broken

by shared thoughts meant

for me   gently offered   unselfish

man!

how many   enough to know time

matters 

~

the patio is flagstone 

laid by his

hands   his and emmanuel's   laid   

perhaps   

with days like

this in mind   day's work over 

their life-mates   their loves   coming

up the hill

together they must have sat   

in silence

or not   thinking

of what lay ahead   strong   

capable men   

their lives yet infinite   

~

colin   marcy   and marketa

join us

for a glass of

wine   the sun now set   the

air cooling   

the conversation turns to

the events of the day   

the note-worthy

and the mundane   gone

the intimacy

i felt   and colin's grandfather

may have

felt   gone   his words like waves

dissipating