i read marketa a favorite poem

it begins with

The two of us

and ends with 

maybe.

in between is a poem of wind and laughter

of youth and possibilities

of time passing

of regret and joy for the one that got away

and, oh, what a one he was

this

blue-eyed, long leap of a lad

reminding me of colin—long of leap

and blue of eye

the author wrote

(rending my sentimental heart)

God himself loved the sight of us

god loved the sight of colin and georgette 

but her parents did not

it is a sad poem

it is a happy poem

so i read it to marketa this morning

because there are reasons to be sad

because there are reasons to be happy

because of frost on the window

because getting out of bed seemed too difficult to bear

because of warm flannel

and cold toes

because i miss colin

because of hindsight

Oh, why did I let that boy go?

though i extrapolate on the theme to suit my needs

because so much of life ends with 

maybe

~

Hindsight, by Nancy Willard

1936-2017