SIXTEEN MAYBE LESS

beyond the ridge on the left, you asked me what i want
between the trees and the chirping by the shading pond
“i spent and hour with you, should i want anything else”
she rose and winked like the owner of a candy store
we were sixteen maybe less, maybe a little more
i walked home smiling, i finally had a story to tell

and though an autumn-time lullaby sang our new-born love to sleep
my brother wrote me, he saw her there
in the woods one Christmas eve, asleep

i met my wife at a party when i drank too much
my son is married and tells me we don’t talk enough
it’s so predictable, yesterday my dream was of you:
beyond the ridge on the left, the sun had left the sky
between the trees and pond you put your hand mine,
said “time has bridled us both but I remember it, too”

and though an autumn-time lullaby sang our new-born love to sleep
i dreamt i traveled and found you there
in the woods one Christmas eve, with me