we walked   like the children we were

friends   but more   sisters

aimlessly   but not   our destination 

sooner or later   the park   where we ran   slid   teetered

soared on the swing-set   legs pumping

seeing the blue sky   and it stuck

because here it is   the sky   the ground

sailing beneath us

sky   then tanbark

the cycle repeated until we launched ourselves skyward

fell to the ground   

took up our wandering walk again

hosta lilies bordering the sidewalk   snap!

a guilty pleasure

under maples trees and oaks we talked

but of what   prickly heat

but of what   can you tell me

it's gone

~

chose a chalky stone   wrote our names

on the walk

at that age our given names

were tagged with a y for you and an ie for me

it is the way you say my name

that calls the memory   

~

walked across the footbridge

past the dark house set back among the pines

yet to know the word dank

but that's what it was

up a crescent hill

across a walden lane

past the fountain that burbled clear

another word yet to know

the apple tree that we tucked skirt and climbed

the school 

train tracks

tall grass and grasshoppers   walked

until we came to the unfamiliar   turning back

homeward

never a thought about tomorrow

or tomorrows

sisters   but not

home to different houses

parents   siblings   beds   all predictable   

give thanks 

~

it is the way you say my name

that calls the memory