Decision
Donna Lisle Gordon

When we moved to another state
In early August and my daughter was nine,
I was intent on making her
Independent. Right now.
I had a two year old who
Couldn't know why his world
was different, overnight.
And I had to be smiling, solid for him.
I also had a new job to start
That looked bad from the beginning
And was.
Their father had to work a year
of 4 to 12 while he was being
Broken in
And down.
And a nine year old just had
To help.

On the first day of school
I drove to the corner
And let her out to walk
The last half mile alone.
A nine year old could do that.

I drove away, watched
Her plod on,
Never looking back, never waving,
To a new school
Ten times the size
Of her last one.

I must believe that in another life
I will get the chance to make
Some important decisions
All over again.

Impetuosity
Donna Lisle Gordon

"Do not hurry," my grown children say.
"Be sure. Wait.
It's for your own good."

I imagine them whispering,"How
can she know what's best for her?"

Aren't their when-we-have-time
phone calls enough,
the mothers' day across-the-miles cards,
two hours together at Christmas dinner,
and occasional visits from my only
grandson? What more could any
old woman want than that?

I'll tell you.

A hand on my leg that says I claim you.
A man who cannot hear from me too often.
One who also had forgotten the delight
of a well planted kiss, the luxury
of strong arms holding another to his chest,
the sweet surprise of an old body reawakening.
And more, even,
than that
an old woman could want.

Words Retrieved
Donna Lisle Gordon

My metaphysical friend told me
That based on the belief that all words ever spoken
Are still out there somewhere in time and space,
Someone is trying to invent a machine
That will be able to sort through and
Pick up Napoleon's "The die is cast.....,"
Henry's "Give me liberty or...,"
Jesus' "Blesses are the pool..."

I wish when he makes this machine
He would try real hard to find for me
The last whispered words of love
From my parents to each other,
Before all the years of estrangement.
And my mother's, to her third born,
"My darling child, I love you."
Words that I know were uttered
In some time and space,
Though I never heard them.

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