Family Reunion

(Virginia, 1985)

so many
so so many
you couldn’t see them all

you could feel them though
and they were pleased

so much unspoken
unacknowledged love
you could feel it though

in the air
in the picnic tables
in the food
the trees
sunlight
bees
paper plates
lawn chairs

even tucked up
way up inside
Great Uncle Eldridges cane

the best of us
will join hands with
the rest of us
in the end