Silver Anniversary Trip, Day Twenty-one

a calming cycle
on a rails-to-trails flat path:
way to start the day

more history learned 
at a medieval castle 
built, burned, lost, rebuilt

my man boating us
back down the river, towards home
our heritage left

Silver Anniversary Trip, Day Twenty

riding up river
in a boat we drive ourselves 
weathering windstorms

the river’s flooded
even for Irish standards
yet we navigate

monastery stop
seventh century ruins
Irish faith runs deep

a long drive’s reward:
stellar food, oldest pub
and Guinness to drink

sleeping on a boat
knowing Athlone’s lights alight 
can be quite calming

a touch of snowfall
brings beauty to commuting
and calms my heartache

my name in Dari
made for me by my student
language: such a gift

i can’t capture this:
the words, the joy, the city
it’s all in this swing

i can’t capture them
filled with adolescent angst
yet so forgiving

a summer road trip
(there’s not without one)
they live it, breathe it

i can’t capture stress 
it won’t fit in this market
nor on this road home

a "staff shortage" day
everything canceled with tracks
(hope thinner than ice)

the Constitution 
(a ship in Boston Harbor)
has won my man’s heart

a tavern lunch date
for our last family road trip
with all of our girls

all grown up, my girls
(they’ve been everywhere with us)
and soon they will fly

with one vacant lot
the clear divide of wealth
(urban devilry)