The Great Blue Heron poised as for a photo shoot standing to its bony knees in the murky camp pond water. “I will always keep that picture hid within my mind.” You, that summer’s crush declared Then you marveled that I did not do so. You might be glad to know the ‘photo’ took for me after all. I see the heron on the pond The late summer evening sky I sense your presence by my side I feel the emptiness of our intimacy eclipsed only by the pain Of its impermanence

A memory of bygone days The summer night sky stars clustered, scattered across the canvas In our sleeping bags we brothers tremble with a quiet joy mixed with fear and dread Love never stronger eternity close as we lay in stillness on the mowed hay field I believe we knew we were in paradise.