Recollection: Centennial Park

Recollection
Centennial Park

A Pantoum


I recall the last time
I saw him and walked
around Centennial Park
with a loaf of Wonder bread.

I saw him and walked with him
in the rhythm of his stride
with a loaf of Wonder Bread
in my hand for the ducks.

The rhythm of his stride
like notes swirling in crescendo
and the wonder of it all, the bread,
the birds, my absent head,

all swirling around in crescendo cloud.
I could have said so much then,
but for the birds, my head, and him
just sitting there so beautifully.

And I could have said so much more
when we sat there by the pond,
him sitting there so beautifully
me wishing I could stay.

We sat beside the pond
in a park in Tennessee.
I wish I could have stayed as 
I recall when last I saw him.