Photos from five years ago
I captioned them
"My yard is blooming!"
And it was
bursting
with pastel purple irises, cheerful snow *****, and cunning wisteria

Photos taken the second month
we lived on the island.

I love Baltimore, my city.
I don't want to move
but I miss this place
and the place before that.

And there are so many places
to see
to live.

Happening onto this set of photos
and my stomach twists--
to be there again
with the smell of *****
steaming at the little shop across the street
with the marsh grasses swaying
and the peepers starting their evening chants.
Is my neighbor still out there working on his truck
or selling tomatoes at that flimsy wooden table?

At 30-ish, I already find myself missing
about four different places and sets of people
How many places will I have to miss at 40--
at 80--if I should be so lucky?

Pieces of my heart and stomach
are scattered across this little patch of East Coast and Appalachia.

How many times can they be divided?
No, not divided.
They're multiplying.