heaven...

I lifted my eyes

from where they had carefully been keeping track of my tiny steps

on the perfectly manicured path

where tall trees

with broad shoulders

had stretched out like umbrellas protecting me from the blinding sun

and

suddenly I stopped

with a jolt

like I had just run head first into a transparent wall

~~

catching my breath

I raised my hand to shield my eyes from the unraveling strings of sunshine

dangling from the quilt in the sky

to be blinded instead

by

a field of sunflowers

~~

I stood there

mesmerized

watching

while they danced to a rhythm

I didn't know

~~

they moved with grace

and

strength

bobbing their heads with dignity and pride

even though

their days of dancing are quickly coming to an end

and

I felt sad

~~

so

tomorrow I'm going back to that field

with my head bobbing and my body swaying

and

I'm going to learn the dance

of

the sunflower

*