PERSONAL FRIENDS

The chateau at Anjou

sprawls along the Loire River

much grander than my memories.

Shouldn’t it be the reverse:

those childhood moments

reflected against the wall of memory

absurdly large, blurred edges.

Like the jump off the dock

into shallow water

so monumental to a child,

epic leap off a cliff

onto jagged rocks below

survived only because

I was so brave.

The water

is no longer

shallow

and I don’t know

how to swim.