I Was There

I say it, I was there.

No matter what the yellow wind has taken,

I was there, with you.

We have walked out early in the spring

beside the river, when the sun’s red shield

was caught in branches

and the bud-tips bled.

We have plucked ripe berries from a hill of brush

in mid-July,

and watched the days go down in flames

in late September,

when the poplar shook its foil.

We have walked on snow in January light:

the long white fields were adamantly bright.

I say it, I was there.

No matter that the evidence is gone,

we heard the honking of the long black geese

and saw them float beyond the town.

Gone all those birds, loose-wristed leaves,

the snowfire, days

we cupped like water in our hands.

So much has slipped through fragile hands.

The evidence is lost, but not these words.

You have my word:

I say it, I was there.