South Saint Paul
High football field.
Natural amphitheater.
Flat all around;
concrete seats in hillside.
Shot an arrow into
the air.
Straight up.
To see how high it
would go.
It vanished at once.
A razor sharp hunting
tip.
Was 11 or so.
Felt foolish.
Seemed safest to
stand still –
Couldn’t shoot it
perfectly
straight up; … … could I?
It finally fell back
30 yards away.
Thunk!
Buried itself 4-5
inches deep in hard ground.
Pulled it out.
Learned.
?
Safe.
Safe at last.
Safe to hear her voice.
Safe to hear what she chose for me.
Safe to play her self-made Valentine’s tape.
Gift from a friend; loved one, we said, we knew
-- then.
Safe; seems a long time since then, since parting
“friends”.
She read David Whyte, Oscar Peterson played.
Her cello voice still brings hot tears.
Find David Whyte books,
Peterson discs.
Learn.