First-born to you,
into a world of light and music,
myriad words, and all their possibilities.

Birth of another kind for you now.

The sphere of light that is your heart
attenuating beyond all fear,
merging into your limitless beginnings.

The secret love you have for the universe
has taught us,
will always teach us.

By some unintentional thievery,
we had a high desert day today,
way out here on the prairie.

Low wind, cooling, and
astonishingly dry.

A blue, deep as high-altitude
cobalt. 
Well, almost.

The woman, still no taller
than a child. The brother,
still kind, still stubborn.

Thinking, sometimes out loud,
the memories coming to each
are sometimes the same ones.

A family working together
in the woods they loved.

This younger brother, so
small, smiling to himself
as he carried kindling.

And the quiet brother,
there too, deep thoughts
widening his hazel eyes.

Maple leaves, still green,
and whirligig seed pods,
pile up now in these
brown paper bags.

Full, flat, flowing
this old bend
in the river
gives peace.

Would living
beside it
bring more
peace?

Or would
a hunger
to see more
end that?