The big yellow slide

I was right behind her, and she waited

for me at the bottom, her arms open and

welcoming.

Mimi! She cried, and I will never forget

that energy, that way of being in the world,

the world of the big yellow slide, the one that

seemed so frightening and high

so recently.

every day she climbs a bit higher as does

my confidence in her.

I am right behind her, watching her and

learning from her, 

who says that the young must learn 

from the old.

Cali, the Leader of the Pack

when there is sorrow or grief,

apathy or, you just can't get off the couch,

the Leader of the Pack will guide you 

towards beauty, a natural bounty, the last

rays of sun reflecting off towering rock.

The Leader of the Pack will bound ahead of you,

looking back occasionally, tail wagging, 

veering offtrack towards interesting smells,

providing that example of looking far afield

when there is sorrow or grief, when one can only

look one direction, or the head hangs low,

the Leader of the Pack teaches us 

another way.

She said I could do whatever I want

 She asked why I don't go to a good university,

like MIT or Harvard, as if it were easy, as if I had 

even one penny to put towards my expenses.

I knew that she would not offer a single nickel,

this woman who pursued her own studies using child support,

at night, while we heated meatloaf in the oven and put 

ourselves to bed.

This woman said that I could do whatever I want,

somehow, she did not concern herself with how.

Three