The Infinite In-Between

Sun sifts through new green leaves across from the river
and we sit on a jacket in the grass
and eat egg rolls and fortune cookies
under the honeysuckle trees.

The breeze brings sweet snow-white drops,
and our laughter bounces around our mini-urban forest.

Birthday wishes across the years come true
in this late afternoon with the boy who brought me flowers,
and a giant jug full of Bell's Oberon, fresh from the tap.

For a moment, we are infinite.

Then bells chime the hour,
bells toll for us in all our dreaming.

I know we can't stay here--it's time to go home.

Time--and we grow older.

Soon there is no wishing on candles,
no song,
just too much ice cream.

The magic is in the moment,
and the moment is gone before I realize
how truly thankful I am for it.

I was too busy thinking about forever to remember that forever is now, in the infinite beauty of the in-between.

Photo courtesy of Southern Belle Magazine