What has value

In one of the long stretching summers before college, you held me in the shallow end of the swimming pool. It was one of those swim-dance event nights, where I was too afraid, or perhaps too shy, to dance but still you wrapped your arms around me as we spun around in the water together - music playing. I have no idea if you would even remember this, or even, that we kissed -- nearly five decades ago.

Swimming Lessons

Next to the raging-tumbling of water
when in days the rumbling rapids
course endlessly along without pause.
A silence upon the laments elevate
and ebb into and from a moment of despair.

Here may frailty trickle as water in its stream
yet nourishes often, still from whence it pours.
And where you may rest - to taste such drops
condensed so sweetly to your cheek and lip.
That now fall as water may into the beauty
of your opened heart.