IF ONLY

Artwork by Nina, Henry, and Mimi

this poem won an Honorable Mention in a recent contest...

IF ONLY 

for David

We are cooking biryani

my boy and I, and drinking wine. 

Children of our blood

and dogs tumble at our feet, 

cinnamon, ginger and garlic

permeate the kitchen air.

Breathing in the fragrance

we share these happy hours

and I imagine a day when I am gone--

my boy an old man,

his long-legged daughter

whirling now about the kitchen,

coming home to him again

and pouring the celebration wine,

he'll understand--there are moments
         you wish could go on forever...       

.