I Think Of You

-for Beth

I think of you,

the birthday card said.

If only you knew how much I think

of you.

How nice, I think. 

Nice to be thought of

but how I wish those thoughts

in autumn could be 

the odd warm days

or the tiny, 

momentary rainbows

dewdrops make

of morning sun.

In winter, I'd like them to be

the scent of cedar and 

cinnamon or

bright winter cardinal red.

If only they were birds singing just 

out of sight in the leaves

and blossoms of spring.

In summer, maybe

the taste of 

honey-sweetened lemonade

or dandelions to pop 

up in my grass.

I think of you often,

your handwriting said,

and script can

be warm and radiant

for a moment

but how I wish I got to 

keep those thoughts 

all around me

to be the beauty of passing

years.