New Love
freshly milled lumber
pushed by steady hands through the whirling blade
sap running down
sticking to the downy piles of saw dust at the millwright’s feet
-tongued and grooved-
slipping one length perfectly into the next
laying side by side in tandem
aligned in perfect unison
supporting the other, stronger together
than a single board could be
coarse, opaque, untended by the years yet to be
unworn, new with possibilities
Middle Love
measured and cut
sanded and stained
hammered down with galvanized nails
counter sunk
and polished to a high sheen
padded feet sliding across
in unmitigated joy and uncontrollable screams
tickled bellies and raspberries
roll across the floor where
hot wheels and roller skates
have marred and gouged
but the cedar holds steadfast
it is strong, secure with knowing and time
dividing the burden, sharing the bountiful comfort
of commitment to each other
Seasoned Love
long faded rectangles
bleached by seasons of open curtains
and scuttling white socks have
worn it perfectly smooth
errant splinters
no longer piercing bare feet
it is warped some now, sagging some now it creaks in the same predictable spots now
but it is fully realized now
it is solid-
the unyielding foundation for everything that came before
and has long since been outgrown
and everything that is yet to come
and is deeply anticipated
it has been weathered
and dust has settled into the piney knots,
glitter and postage stamps have slipped through the widening spaces
no secret to each other how much weight has been borne
how many angry words absorbed falling from regretful lips
but so many more sugary crumbs of laughter
and brandy laced kisses
wrinkled feet creaking the floor boards in a syncopated waltz
saw dust still lingering, cushioning
those moments between-
melding the mill’s first cut, the child’s first step and love’s last kiss