And when his sorrow broke

the pictures fell from the wall.

From memory

he drew her.

The hair he braided while she slept.

The fingers that skimmed his.

The red lips he kissed

everywhere

sleeping and awake

places unknown

in dreams.

Then he loosened the knot

to let her go.

And she soared

to become spring.

A distant field

evergreen

that keeps him young.

Colleen Sohn