From the Flip Side/Full Moon Fever

Side 2, Track 5

I remember her standing in the tall grass and cattails

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I do remember her standing naked, tall grass

and cattails, basement apartment in Cambridge,

staring out a grimy window at skirts, shoes

passing on Mass. Ave., my breath stopped

by the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen.

Fifty-four years later, I’m the one staring out

a window at bird feeders, swings, winter garden,

forest as far as I can see, and she is bundled up

against the bitter cold, blue sky, snow-covered

lawn, standing on tiptoes, reaching up to feed

some white throated sparrows, long white hair

blowing in the breeze, finches swooping in

from beyond the frozen treeline of this sanctuary

below the cliffs, all of them blessedly unaware

of this breathless boy watching from behind.

—SL, New Paltz, NY, January 2022