Face to face with me

National Poetry Month 2020

We take for granted what we have before we know we have it.

For me, that would be the 90’s.

If I could go back,

would I?

If I could go back,

why?

My why would be

to be barefoot in Hurricane Bay, swimsuit stuck to my skin, swimmers screaming, not out of terror or fear, but joy. A sound that wallows from their soul-

free from the four walls of home.

My why would be

Fourth of July on my great- aunts porch. Hot dog and fluffy bun in hand, hair poking out of my ponytail

barefoot, probably.

My would would be

to hear my great-grandfathers stutter, to smell my great-grandmothers snuff, to hear her say

come and give me some sugar.

My why would be

ultimately

to stand face to face with me.

Young vs. older

to hear what I have to say.

Even then I knew those 90’s moments

would not last forever.

Even then I knew those 90’s moments

were a blink in a tremendous stretch of time.

I will try to not take for granted

what I have before I know it’s mine.

Even now I know, the days are short,

the minutes long

time is what it is when we know we have it.