From Poetic Asides: “For today’s prompt, write a poem about something before your time. Maybe it’s a certain time in history. Or a type of music. Or a story that was shared by friends or family–before your time.”

nmh + ylh

square jawed and enveloped
in canvass of red earth
his eyes hazel like autumn elm leaves
that augur the advent of colder times
he stood tall like a tree to appear larger
larger than her life
firmly rooted and solid
a resting place
shelter from midday sun
home base for hide and seek
or just a place to carve
your initials declare your
presence or love.

a round face difficult
to place or categorize
claimed by many
visually at home
in places she would never set foot
tante? madre? sorellina?
but too tall to be any
she stood like a palm arched toward the sun
with frond curls the color of pitch
rustling at the slightest breeze
yet hurricane resistant
bending and dancing for survival
against attacks from weather
we name.

for forty two summers
he bloomed expanding in girth
one trunk ring at a time
his arms and leaves spread wide
soaking up the southern sun
obscuring and
eclipsing his palm.

for forty two summers
she longed for autumn and winter
knowing like any arborist
that a palm needs no shade
but instead delights in the curve
of its spine toward the sun
and fanciful tangoes
with the wind.