Like Watching a Boat Leave the Shore

And in the day itself, it wasn’t
Any more complicated than peace
And affable affection, with food

And physical comfort. Giving gifts
And taking photographs and being
A little selfishly contented,

And no one putting things in context,
Saying aloud this could be the last
For us, for one of us, for our world,

That’s what made the day memorable
To the private memories that could
Not retain most of it, not retain

Any of it too many years more.
There were smiles and more hugs at the door.