by Kyle K. Mann
I’ve come upon them on my walk
A couple in love, seated on an unzipped sleeping bag
Laughing, kissing
I smile and head for home
For I’ll be back many times to this clifftop spot
It’s my daily route
I’m amused to see
The next evening’s trudge
The bag, his hat and lighter left behind
Yet I’m a bit moved in speculation
What happened, did they head off in bliss, in altered state
To leave these things behind?
Profound, I think, and head back home
As days go by, the items remain
Sleeping bag, lighter and hat
A testament to something special
Then the lighter disappears one day
Guess someone needed one
A few days later the hat is gone
Then the fall rains set in
The sleeping bag remains
Slowly getting muddy
More weeks go by, I smile when I pass the spot
Then one day it’s gone, no there it is
In the park trash can, sodden, soiled
Months, now years go by
I still remember the couple
Lost in love
Wandering off and away
And I wish them well
Kyle K. Mann
Topanga
October, 2017
