I sit on a hill,
the view I have come to know myself by
set before me
the sun laying its guardian eyes
on my back.

I scrape my fingernails
into the ground
unearthing memories,
the dirt crumbles
cold and wet on my skin.
I let the broken up clumps
fall through the spaces between my fingers.

I dig a little longer
and find you.
I unearth those beautiful mountains
the way the sun hit the water that day
how those pine trees smelled
as I buried my toes in the sand
and you brought me home.

I climb into those holes,
those safe pockets of earth,
where it is cool and dark
and dream of you.
All the while exhuming
what may be better left untouched.

I scoop it all into a mound
pat it down,
at last, I dig my heels into the ground
and stand.