She laughs.

And the wind runs
through the blades of grass,
combing the fragile locks
back
and
forth.

The hill isn’t all that steep,
but she is in a rush to get down,
a rush to feel the speed.
And as she tumbles down

He smiles.

He quickly falls to his knees,
eager to follow.

And when he finally reaches the end of the rush,
she is there.

Waiting.

And smiling.

And he wishes that he could draw.
Wishes that he could paint.
Wishes that he could somehow capture
this moment,
her face,
her joy

Forever.

But this memory of his will have to do.
And he does his best then
To trace the lines of her face.
To remember. . .

And she laughs.

And he knows

This is all he ever needed

This is all he ever wanted

And she is

Everything

Unpublished work © September 12, 2006 Tori Talamonti