in the golden light
 i pretend it’s one year back
 when she still loved creeks
 
 she smiles for me
 for this gilded summer pic
 to placate my wish
 
 but after? they play,
 she lies back in the shade, bored
 of being in creeks
 
 no crawdad searches,
 no hiding out in the fort–
 grown in just a year
 
 but i’ll take the pic,
 make it my background; pretend
 just like she used to