for Christie and Dave
While standing amidst
the airy branches
of the mulberry bush
and pulling the darkest
fruits to our lips
and laughing
in the bliss of it,
it’s easy to believe
we will always
be happy, that there
will always be sweetness
enough to share,
and that there will always
be something wonderful
yet to ripen.
Yes, it is raining,
and yes, there are troubles,
far away and even inside
our own stories,
but for now, there’s
this branch, heavy
with midsummer,
there’s this humming
of old melodies
we all know, there’s
this stain on our chins,
on our busy hands.