I Knew A Woman Once...

I knew a woman once whose smallest gestures gave delight. When we left the relatives behind in the cabin, and walked into the sharp cool air, there loomed before us a steep hill we climbed with smiling ease. Everything was in its place: the spongy ground, the grass still wet with dew, the spring sun even shyer than I, trying to shine without calling attention to itself, wanting to be appreciated but not singled out. Oh, yes, I wanted to wear a disguise, but words would suffice: spin a story, craft a verse, quote a popular song, and if all fails, rely on the moment for rescue: describe the moment in its wonder, how the earth gives off a smoky smell, how the wet bark of trees darkly shines, how everything within view makes you believe in resurrection, how the hours grow younger in her presence, how her presence makes you hold your breath. Will any of this reach her laughing heart? Inside you is a heaviness but the words tumble out of you, careless words, foolish words, words that blush but refuse to stop their onslaught... And she smiles. She turns at the summit of the hill in a complete circle, once, twice, three times, still silent, her arms outstretched, her hands waving, her faced turned upward, receiving all the light that is falling from heaven to earth. I knew a woman once, who made me hold my breath, I knew a woman once whose name was Spring!