A Smile Away

She looks at me.
A smile touches her lips.
There's a twinkle in her eye.
She takes my hands in hers.

"So how's your day?", she asks.
And listens as I respond.
Then she tells me about hers.
I lean my head to the side
as I listen.

She suddenly jumps up
and heads for the door,
pulling me along.
"Let's go for a hike."

We can see so far from up here.
Yet we seem to only see each other.
Everything seems brighter.
Than when I'm by myself.

We jump from rock to rock.
One hand in the other.
The air seems full of energy.
And I'm so light.

She suddenly stops and so do I.
"Listen, don't you hear it?"
"Race you there."
I cheerfully chase after her.

It's a merry brook.
And we listen to it in silence.
A feeling of peace washes over us.
And we smile at each other.

It's time to go.
And as we do, she takes my hand again.
And leans her head against my shoulder.
We leave in silence.

Morris Cox
Jan 15, 2000