Cortège

Do you remember 
those tender aged
times?

When our laughter
echoed eagerly
through the early summer backyard
like the black-capped chickadee trill

chick a dee dee dee

When our chatter
carried heavily
through the late evening forest
like the song of a whippoorwill 

whip-poor-will

I remember 
the unthinkable
time

When my breathing
held haltingly
through the agonizing drive
midst the marshlands 

I will remember
those caliginous
times

When my wailing
rib rattling 
through the many more miles 
left to go 

the cortége
of redwing blackbirds
 forever following me

conk-la-ree!  conk-la-ree!

NaPoWriMo  Day 1