If I could catch it

In a craft made out of willow reeds
under grey skies, clouds opaque
we sailed upon new spring waves
an equinotical vernal date

Our souls together thus were borne

on drafts of wind unseen

warmed by love and innocence
in the temperate seas of spring

I thought if I could catch it then
in words I could express

I could give it to you endlessly

but its essence would not be etched

We float instead, past flotsam memories

past old Riley, with his rake

past crumbling limestone yesterdays 

and garden lives that once were great

Past growing things and summer vows

in a garden, in a church

in the seedings and the rootings

pasts and presents are converged

We float across the yellow green

then forsythia waves of gold
and see rich jeweled islands cobalted blue
just emerged from winter's cold

There, a flock of new magnolias
perched on a twisted old green fence
poise their pink wings to fly away
perfumed and intense

The lockers locks de-iced

hyberbation thawed

there’s a leaping of our hearts

a joy that winter stalled

Shedding hats and gloves and woolen coats

back to our new selves underneath

we smell the smell of leather gloves

then our selves are more complete

A parrot green with eyes of orange

has a key now in his beak
to a safe that holds a telescope
to see things once oblique

A squinted eye held to the scope
old dolls lost are seen again,
pony tails and pink ribbons
reunited childhood friends

There’s your birthday dress,
with its ruffled top, mom put it on your bed
your friends are coming over soon

for spring happiness again

Do you see your favorite album?

it’s fifties, no it’s rock

it’s Simon and it’s Garfunkel

it’s Cowsill family pop

Now a shimmering spirit

a soothing birthday potion

from dandelions and cherry blossoms

bittersweet and potent

We slip into Jacob's forest now

a shadowed Sherwood in her backyard
to sneak in and make a real faux camp
I’ll give you a head start

We’ll see cardinals, larks and blue jays

as they dance around the trees

disappointments don’t exist there

only inner peace

Squirrels, raccoons and grapevines

tea parties, rabbit holes

you’re alice in her looking glass

watching mysteries of the soul

The captain sends you to the crow’s nest

to spy for trains down at the corner

we close our eyes and listen

from you, our sole reporter

It’s the soothing of the railroad sounds
steaming brakes and clanking steel
cityscapes and city sounds
iron ships without a keel

You spy the station wagon

in the driveway, an old ford

In 70’s rides you saw the police

until the Wright’s they were ignored

I see you on your birthday then

and you’re tender, young and pretty

you’re holding your little sisters’ hands

Goat and Meg and Sticki

If it’s not like this now then you’ve just made things up

in the intervening years

spring is always out there

and won’t ever disappear

Like how I saw you in the kitchen

with all your still best friends

bell bottoms, beads and peace signs

none have ever reached an end

And in places there on Bell and Hoyne
you’re still holding hands with the girls
but your hands to hold have multiplied
like sparkling family pearls

Our ship lifted off and took to the sky
its great white sails unfurled
our captain pointed to a southern point
and gave the wheel a twirl

We moved up through the giant oaks
toward their ancient towering arms

they protected all our growing up

and kept us all unharmed

We sailed then almost aimlessly

we turned and lurched and twisted

as the captain threw the anchor out

I thought we almost missed it

But we floated up there in the sky

and I recognized the space

a sacred mission, a sacred heart

a childhood holy place

You looked down through your telescope
and saw yourself down there
white gloves and white dress
spring flowers in your hair

And you felt it then and you feel it now
with borchardt in the garden
and the next one there that would heal your soul
when you needed that department

We waved at you and you looked up
and the sailboat lifted us together
and the spring songs floated up to us
and they’ll be with us for - forever

The goats on your birthday

To-daay-aay-aay-aay on your birthday,
the mountain goats bleated
we two discussed
just what you needed

The Birthday Bird, as usual,
was no help at all
just hot dogs on spools
and jumps from high waterfalls

The tall blue-green pets
from the Katroo pet department
well, they’re too fluffy and tall
for a Manhattan apartment

The deep sea divers, Getz and Gitz
suggested a time-telling fish

But with clock-keeping problems
of burping and napping
we re-ee-ee-eealy can’t see
a ticking fish happening

How about a gift card
from Wesley Ballou’s?
a health food boutique
in downtown Katroo…

They have cakes by the Snookers
and beer by the Trappists
And jellied green eel
in gold metal wrappers

Or deep-sleeping darts
To throw at the baby
Eighty minutes of bliss (assuming good aim)
and guaranteed Katroo safety

A pa-a-a-alm-reading session
from the gypsies in town?
On second thought,
you should turn that one down

You might get the blues
if they looked at your hand
and saw te-ee-ee-enage years
you’d have to withstand

We couldn’t bu-uy-uy you a jersey
of the Mets or the Yanks
but might spring for a tee-shirt
of the Katroo Fighting Francs

So really, we’re back
to the ho-o-o-ot dog event
a Birthday Bird favorite
with little dissent

A spe-eh-eh-cial birthday lunch
a meal, seven course (all dogs)
but with a new twist,
we’ll make it veggie - of course!

And then we'll wash Katroo mustard
with a dive in the pool
and the goats can climb rocks
and eat hot dogs off spools

Happy Birthday!!!!!