I Remember, I Remember,
I remember even now —
I remember, I remember,
The sunlight on the wall —
The lavender of evening and
Wishing on a star —
For the gleaming, magic thing
With diamond hooves and wings.
The evening slept soon after that,
My dream left with the light.
*
I remember, I remember;
My shining, stamping herd
Of willow sticks and cedar sticks
That slept in my back yard.
My favorite was the red one —
The spotted cedar steed.
We pranced and danced for many miles
In my grass-green back yard.
*
I remember, I remember,
The dusty one-lane road —
We’d cross the creek and park beside
That windmill by the fence.
A peacock screamed and flew aloft —
The windmill was his throne —
From there he saw for many miles
All danger that might come.
*
The cool front yard had trellises
Supporting wild grape vines —
With the lily pond a quiet guard
Against the desert drought.
Now, many years and many miles
I think on it and weep.
All that knew the desert best
Were gone unto their rest.
*
Now, I alone can see that place —
I strain my dusty eyes to see
What little yet remains.
The cattle trough, the pitched tipi —
The road around the hill to grandma’s house
And water from the well.
That ancient crimson pillow knew
Of the trip that brought her here.
*
How glamorous to dream of Mars
And sending cars to space —
A dream that’s safe from all decay.
This legend will remain —
For who has eyes to see so far
That garbage floats in space.
*
Who will envy when the dust is gone,
And the water fled as well.
Where are the hands that cut the wood
And nailed it — piece by piece?
The hands are gone, the house is sticks —
We only dream in bites and bits.
The lizard on the rock remains
With his bright blue racing stripes,
*
He’ll still be there if any eyes
Are left to see him race.
Of all the things that come and go,
One thing remains quite clear —
That finding you and being here
Is life’s best magic time.
To think, to talk, to dance with words
Is given but to few.
*
We remember, we remember,
And while we do, they live.
*
Patricia Andrews
12/28/2024