Up even with the second floor window
of our bedroom, a piece of flat,
smooth oak bark
is shaped like a heart
a warm rounded heart
like the ones in our chest
not merely the valentine’s day variety
a heart living in the skin
the protective outer layer
of the broad oak’s trunk
there for many years
I suppose
noticed when I glanced
out our window
to see if you were there
back from errands, chores
back to our home
with our three treasures
all loud and boisterous
as they are late summer
soon school and fall will come
but they are still full
full of the flush of summer play
a heart in the wood
growing with the tree
August 23, 2006 11:52
Copyright by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010. All rights reserved. Contact me at
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