the stars glitter, a reflection
of the dark of the pond below our dangling toes,
like a portal to new spaces,
new freedom
we thought we’d never reach.
openness, honesty,
i cherish these between us,
and let it blossom like the flowers,
heavy laden on the magnolia tree out back,
where your dad had his garage
and your mom used to whistle, hanging laundry
on long summer days.
open
like the field between our houses,
open like my eyes when we played hide & seek.
you knew i was a cheater from the start.
redemption is purity
like the waters on the surface of our star-speckled pond.