That last day of June,
Sultry, rainless, pollen-loaded,
The heads of hollyhocks drooping,
The grass beneath the horse chestnut
Already turning brown,
It was our six-month anniversary.
I have learned to pay attention
To child and grandchild,
To friends and family carers,
To birds, trees and flowers,
To the clouds and the stars,
And, yes, to loss and grief as well.
Now I am learning to pay attention
To you, your presence and absence,
Your voice and thoughts
Your eyes, your smiles
Your changing moods
The touch of your skin.
That last day of June,
In the heat of the night
And the cool of the morning,
The scent of syringa rising from the garden,
We paid attention to each other,
Finding something I thought was lost