back in mid-autumn in 1974
i sat safely on a cliff
in astabula, ohio
playing my guitar and
singing into the wind
below
remnants of blue glass
stuck out of the rocks and sand on the beach
like landmarks for creatures who
navigate the shoreline
as i did my best to sing
donovan’s “brother sun and sister moon”
my thoughts turned to you
soon i was imagining that i was singing to you
it was eight years since we said good-bye in the park on madison
i had just returned a book to the library
and i told you i was moving away
you and your friends were so kind
and it was the caring look on your face and
your soft voice that returned to me
i had tried to be soldier
i chose to go to war for my overseas duty
but i failed to assist, to protect, and to defend
injured in training they sent me home honorably with a medal
but without a purpose
you were at kent state
studying to be a nurse
your purpose was to care for
and serve others
lives go on
purposes are reworked
there is struggle
there is joy
there is love
there is loss
there is a search for reasons to be
it is in loss that we
connected once again
for the loves of our lives
departed far too soon
i found a way to fulfill my purpose
in writing
in classrooms
and by helping however i could
you continue to
care and serve
for family
neighbors
strangers
back in mid-autumn in 1974
i sat safely on a cliff
in astabula, ohio
playing my guitar and
singing into the wind