"we are here... we are here" Dr. Seuss

I hear these words
when I'm cleaning
wiping dark hardwoods
that show every speck of dust
wiping away
spider communities 
that live their little lives in webbed corners 
just below where we live our little life

we are here
we are here

simple words
learned early

we are here
for the few precious moments
that we are graced with

how did we get here?
how long will we be here?

in a treehouse bedroom
falling into easy sleep 
heat subsiding
air swaying lace over head 
without the help of the fan


me and a man
in bed
my hubby and I
ducking a bat
in the middle of the night 
opening screens
closing doorways
gently guiding the intruding swooner
back into velvety black

an afternoon from childhood
with kids
a covered bridge

and shaded playground
a picnic table dinner
ice cream cones
for dessert

unmemorable happenings
happening
in our very similar lives

birth
and babies
children
grandchildren
parents
prayers
politics
work
homes
decorating
renovating
schooling
ever cleaning
visiting
vacations
travel
music
art
coffee
books
food
smoothies
movies


our very similar lives


the more I've lived 
the less I seem to know

I know to wake up every morning
praising the giver of the glory of day
the brightness of light
the loudness of birds
the movement of traffic
the smell of bacon
the roast of coffee
the lure
to crawl out of bed
hug the strong loving man in my life
who would throw his body over mine
automatically to save me
and begin again


family

I know the face
in the mirror
and the coolness of the 100 year old tiles under my feet
the blurry brown eyes that continually try to see
the hair that seems to be greying in slow motion
the moods of the heart and mind
that don't show in the mirror
or do they


life

I know to be grateful for running water
and indoor plumbing
though 'little house' still has its hold on me!


home

I know how to make two lovely cups of coffee
not from some mr or K machine
but from a simple little imported
stove top espresso maker

I know to begin each day with the word
the word that remains
even in this ever changing world
of smart this, i-that, and flat those

I know to do the dishes
do the laundry
make a bed
make a meal

wipe a nose
wipe a face
wipe a bottom
wipe the floors
wipe the tears

give a hug
give a drink
give a little time

I remember moments
in the middle of the night
or in the middle of something else
inconvenient
precious moments


ones never photographed
yet forever imprinted
in my minds eye
did I write the words
of the unmemorable happenings

or did I write around them


I don't know


I do know though
that I will continue 
to take the pictures
with a camera
and with memory
of the moments still left to be known


and I will write words
even when no longer filling books
even when no one looks