in response to “All of Us” by Lou Storey
The Long Way Around
I took the long way around, wanting
to memorize every path leading back
to you. Pressed each step from heel to toe
if only to keep from walking backwards
through Fall to find you, or falling back into place
without you. I'll take disappearing inwards, yes,
or rather, contemplate how earth gives
way to bone – No, now is where petals butter
my fingertips,
tip me towards a woven feeling gathered
from garden to garden; how else can I savor
the slipstreams of honey-scent pulling behind me?
Do you remember when I believed the willow weeped?
Its bark furrowed by salty trails, my little red pail
left to collect midnight teardrops…
How did the rain know to pour awe?
My morning eyes seeped in giddiness —
What else is there to do but water seeds
you said, and grow flowers from sorrow.