September, and I am already pushing spring
in my mind, though winter is pleasant enough—
no mosquitos. Late August showers, spindly rain
lilies—don’t remember seeing them before—
showing themselves for a few days.
I saw you working your garden, bent over a row
of beans—driving by last week, last month
it may have been—wishing I could paint
the impression, but am more than a hundred
years too late.
Too late to celebrate the feelings one once had,
Virginia says, before the light of shell fire
revealed the world—puffed and stuffed
with straw—still I saw you working your garden,
wanted to paint you there—
Mixing colors on a palette, white cotton trousers—
as in wearing them cuffed—greens and browns
wildflowers on the side of the road, lazy susans
and daisies—brushed yellows. Summer gives
way to September—then October.
Pumpkins and cranberries, whipped cream
and whiskey in your coffee, a twinge of regret—
Brady
From an Upstairs Window