A Case of You
for Tindi
Transcendental Cuarenta
Liberte in flamenco feet
Never undone by the journey, always watching
building files on what’s next
you know there’s a washing coming
moving the garden, it’s tilled, it’s sown
no groundnuts here, just truth nestled in Neema’s kisses
and a wondrous globetrot
Queensland, Sydney
a reverential you
fingers up receiving the vibrations
monkey washing potoatoes on the other side
and you in Lavington
effervescent
clouds propel spirals, flight and
a case of you
eyes closed
a case of me
back on Gresham
healing wounded hearts in slumber
gotta be
Touching Earth
for Megan
There is Cazenovia in your veins
mixed with the silt of clay from a wood-burning kiln
let this be a year of glorious lessons learned
like that Starbucks guy with his coffee soda
you are all that is true
in generosity and gratitude
from the 12,000 pumpkin pies in your Quaker school years
to the love in Faraday and Cardozo
Your poppa watches from the stars scattered above mulberry bushes
wishing you a return to all that is born in your fingers
making cups, home for wasabi
a centering of your soul
Corny Love
for Heather
you and your egg salad
you and your Excel spreadsheets
you have never known love like this before
(Yes, I want to send you the 1980 YouTube Stephanie Mills video to commemorate a love for Lucas Micah)
a LYLAS friendship crosses a decade
all those clear plans
those grassy Naperville squares buttressed by Hawkeyes and iceburg lettuce
maybe some romaine
you mock my arugula, kale, radicchio
‘Grass! It’s all grass!’
I embrace the woman who can make me laugh like no other
purple polka dotted pumpkin eaters
holding helping those who cannot help themselves
you dearest, need celebration
for your wisdom
and your love of that which you know
and that which you don’t: jicama, jojoba
rich and resonant … thank you for sharing your smiling, inventive poem with me. tony
You are very welcome. I’m thrilled that you experienced the marvel of these three women on their birthday.