THERE'S JUST THIS ONCE

WE SAW HER THEN
IN A YELLOW ROOM
AS SHE WAS BORN TO US

TINY
SMALL BREATHING
LIFE IN LIFE FOREVER

WATCHING EVERY MOVEMENT
HEARING EVERY WHISPER
REACHING OUT TO TOUCH A FACE OR HAND

AND EVEN THEN
THE ROAD OUTSIDE
ALREADY LED AWAY
THERE'S JUST THIS ONCE
AND NEVER ONCE AGAIN

(FOR LEILA- APR/19/1975)
REH