a poem revisited...

     I wrote this a long time ago; it's been something like nine or ten years. It came to me after an illness had kept me locked inside for a couple of months. For some reason, I was reminded of it this morning.

Song



     Today I’ll go outside
leave the house as if for the first time
hear again snow under foot
see my breath again fog the crisp air
     yes today I’ll go outside
leave the house as if for the first time

     today I’ll go outside
see blue sky as if for the first time
feel again warm sun on my face
aslant mixed with the sting of the cold
     yes today I’ll go outside
see blue sky as if for the first time

     today I’ll go outside
hear folks talk as if for the first time
hear all the old neighbors talk
strangers talk while nursing their tea
     yes today I’ll go outside
hear folks talk as if for the first time

     those who won’t hear snow
under foot see blue sky feel again sun
on their face while the voices ring on
     regret regret as I go outside
leave the house as if for the first time