The evening wind is gusting
through our garden
shaking the maple leaves
bending the boughs
my wife is mixing soil
with her bare hands
adding nutrients
transplanting flower starts
my thoughts are elsewhere
with our family scattered
coast to coast
and overseas
siblings in Turkey
Brazil Brooklyn California
our children
in West Virginia
Portland Oregon
and Humboldt County
out on the Redwood Coast
neices and nephews
likewise spread afield
their children
some still infants
others halfway to their teens
and our grandchildren
whom we've not seen
in far too long
thanks to the Covid
the twins turned sixteen
and their younger brother
will be thirteen in a week
we miss them all
so much and now
in three more days
my wife and I
are heading out
to see our son
daughter-in-law
and grandchildren
I listen to the wind
tossing the leaves
the sound an echo
of my restless thoughts
and my impatience
to be on our way