Come and Go Blues

...for Eric...

There is always a breeze now
a core hint of cool
that reminds us of what's coming,
for now, it's refreshing out running
and pretending we're children again.
She spins around to catch my eye
grinning, as if to say, "I've still got it, don't I?"

I say, "I know what you mean, sweetheart,
I know what you mean" -
I hum a few bars of Yesterday
and whisper in her ear,
"After an endless week of rain,
It's so good to be here."

Three weeks on the road last month
to be back home with her
chocolate cake
and cookies take the sting out
we eat our way through town
painting the air thick with bright colors
to spend our form of fortune - is it worth it?-
to hear her say out loud,
"This is everything I need."

I say, "I know what you mean, sweetheart,
I know what you mean" -
I hum a few bars of Yesterday
and whisper in her ear,
"After an endless week of rain,
It's so good to be here. "

The trees release tiny brown and yellow leaves
that clutch our clothing and the strands of our hair
we shake them free and see
the trees' path of expression to our door,
She says, "You've been singing the blues
but the blues gave you soul.
This is the only way for us to know how far we've come,

and how far we have to go..."

I say, "I know what you mean, sweetheart,
I know what you mean" -
I hum a few bars of Yesterday
and sit down with a beer.
After that endless week of rain,
I say,

"It is so good to be

here."