Remembrance

he sits under the big oak tree
remembering what was
forgetting what is

the old house with blue shingles
the big lake
swimming with fish
sometimes a turtle

those are gone now
leaving a vast emptiness
in his heart

he tries hard
keeping those memories alive

choosing to ignore all
that have come after

the swing sets
the baseball field
the merry children's laughter

he ignores it all

giving no thought

no acknowledgment

but chooses to stay
lost in his own thoughts

if he did pay attention
he might have seen the
for sale sign

the buyer and seller

he might have seen the contract
that was signed that day
before the bulldozers came

he would know how it happened

but he wont know
because he doesn't want to

he wants to keep remembering

so he does

he sits under the big oak tree
until sundown comes

then he gets up and stretches
and walks to his bike

just before he rides out
he catches sight of a child

a small girl
just four
maybe five

she's smiling
walking to her car
her parents close behind
holding hands

she's happy
merry with laughter
blowing bubbles

and just for a moment
the man who wants only to remember
what was
rather than what is

smiles