My Parents Visits

It starts in the fall. First, on the edge of hearing, a cacophony of honking, strident, and echoing. The geese are flying south. Heading to their winter homes. The Vs change and shift overhead, as one leader takes over from the other. Spring comes, and once again, geese pass overhead returning to their summer abodes, deep in the north. Each season they fly overhead, Sadly, I think about how much you loved to hear and see the birds alighting on the lake in front of you. Photograph after image, blurry white shapes in the distance. Hovering, floating around buoys left out for winter. Each honk I hear is a reminder that you are gone. Looking overhead, I wave and say hello to remind me that youre still around.

Paul R. Parsons October 14, 2011