Four years
And tens of thousands of miles later
All I have is a color picture
Taken on a foggy California afternoon
Gray-misted evergreens
And sandy, brown cliffs
I had forgotten the white turtleneck sweater
And the matching denim skirt that was too tight
Her hair still overpermed and miscolored
She smiled at the camera
Posing for me to see her
A rare moment in fuzzy, gloss print

It's hard for me to see the scar on her right knee
From the operation when she was 14 (tore it up running)
She has strong legs,
A mischievous grin,
Those high cheek bones on a wide, sweet face
I can think of these details clearly
But without the picture
I can't remember any of it

[October 24, 1991 & August 06, 1998]