Elena at Lake Harriet band shell

the absence of the afternoon
rain
left the evening
with a golden glow
thrown over the road all the way to the lake

we biked around the water
passing people who seemed posed
"enjoying
a moment by the lake together"
while in my heart
I was happily arranging
father feelings

that's not to say
this was not real
or as true
as we could make it

but it was another thing
that you did
when we stopped for a few free songs
from the orchestra in the band shell
and you got up and stretched out your arm
and slowly, slowly revolved with the music


almost
the whole visible world
seemed to pivot at the spot you marked


daughter
how will we learn
about these things?
at 30 I've forgot
and you don't yet know
the things you know