relations
flock south
settle in mass
for a birthday celebration
life on hold
emails unread
appointments skipped
cell phones silenced
raucous:
each moment filled with
sound, stories
debating details, dates,
long-forgotten
ravenous:
eating, eating, eating
pancakes, eggs by the dozen
biscuits and gravy, CAKE
three squares a day swell our bellies
we travel south
White Sands National Park
La Palomas, Mexico
massive dunes, a massive wall
we travel east
fluorite, petrified wood, arrowheads
treasures searched for,
discovered, carried home, sorted
we shop local
postcards, books, rocks
$8 movie + popcorn + red vines
churros, green chile cheeseburger, red beer
they leave today
alarms set, coffee drips
cats confused by pre-dawn activity
weave between legs
suitcases loaded, hugs all around
car doors slam, gravel crunches
as red tail lights wink goodbye
headed north
returning to still-warm blankets
we shed tears, fall back
asleep, lulled by, saddened by,
the sound of silence