Family Photo, 1975

Taken after the move from Florida to Washington
to make a new start, we were standing
under the petals of spring, holding daughters.

We did not know why one season
builds upon another, how limbs of trees
alter light.

The petals lured us,
like rain
and the call of the whippoorwill

from the hollow in the woods
where we could see our own eyes,
and willingly enter the dream.

It did not matter where we’d come from
— we were standing under the petals of spring
holding daughters.