Change

The little yellow bench is gone. It stood against the pine. Each year the pine provided shelter and a canopy of green above me. You could sit there and watch the sun set over the water.

The little gray cottage is shuttered. The hands of the claddagh folded in friendship. The place where friends met. This week I saw the owl. He was on the wall by the water. He sat sideways on the wall, looking into the distance. The yellow dock was sadly placed beyond the waters reach.

We went for a walk and I think of you this evening. We paused by the garden where the army of straw hats would joyfully tend to it. The sounds of conversation, happy chatter, laughter. It’s silent now.

The rabbit appeared in my path on my way home. A reminder of the gift of life. He paused to look at me and implored me to remember, life and gratitude. I’ll miss you friend. See you by the water in another time and place.