A Poem for Sunday

Why look forward?

It is Tuesday afternoon
on a perfect spring day.
I am watching my husband
carry our baby daughter
along a circular mown path
around a meadow.
He lifts her to his shoulders,
disappearing for a moment
behind a tree.
They walk through
a patch of shade
and out again.
I imagine he is singing to her
or naming the flowers and birds
in the field.
She is surely laughing
or studying everything
or both.
Her perfect head
bobs up and down
through dappled light.

They could hear me if I called.
I stand and watch on the steps
of our cabin.
We are here to celebrate
five years of marriage.
When first we came,
we were newlyweds,
one year into our journey.
Now we arrive with
new life.

Soon they will return
to me,
to this little home.
Their journey will end.
Tomorrow will come.

Why look forward?
Why desire anything but this?
Why long for a moment other than now?

For now,
here now,
are flowers
and sunlight–
My husband
and child
and I–
Inseperably
dancing
in a meadow
awash with our
unabashed
love.

***

I wrote that poem 5 years ago. Now I have Dylan who was Kate’s age in this poem.  It has been raining off and on all day.

We’ve been playing together in the house. It’s Sunday. Why think of a moment other than now?

Why long for one?  This moment is complete.