“Serendipity” © Kelly Sauvage Moyer

 

Remember – a Villanelle

Remembering September – we camp at Lake Penobscot
Before I leave for Europe – I have a dream of flying
The loons of Maine are calling – louder than a gun shot

You wear my letter jacket – my love for you is red-hot
We’ve driven seven hours – the sun is slowly dying
Remembering September – we camp at Lake Penobscot

Bodies warmed at fireside – we only have but one thought
Roasting smores and hot dogs – before the campfire frying
The loons of Maine are calling – louder than a gun shot

That night we sleep together – in our Downeaster Camelot
For the first time of a lifetime – you and I sky-highing
Remembering September – we camp at Lake Penobscot

In the morning skinny-dipping – Guinevere and Lancelot
Your body beautiful and pale – the Autumn leaves are crying
The loons of Maine are calling – louder than a gun shot

Over German targets flying – in my tangled web of fear caught
What helps me through the horror – high anxiety denying
Remembering September – we camped at Lake Penobscot
The loons of Maine were calling – louder than a gun shot

 
 
Remember – a Pantoum

Remembering September
Before I left for Europe
We camped at Lake Penobscot
The loons of Maine were calling

In weeks I leave for Europe
We’ve driven seven hours
My love of you is calling
Packed sandwiches and kisses

In my truck for seven hours
You wear my letter jacket
Sandwiches and kisses
My senior ring is dangling

My leather letter jacket
We pitch the tent that evening
My love dangling from a chain
We build a warming campfire

Outside the tent at evening
Roasting smores and hot dogs
Bodies warming to the fire
I have this dream of flying

After smores and hot dogs
That night we sleep together
Then you and I go flying
For the first time of a lifetime

That night we keep together
I have this fear of dying
I’ve feared it all my lifetime
It waits beyond the pale

I have this fear of dying
In morning skinny-dipping
Your body beautiful and pale
In the frigid autumn water

Our eyes go skinny dipping
I lock your perfect body
In the frigid autumn memory
Of my camera ready soul

I lock your perfect body
I realize my dream of flying
Your body deep within my soul
That first time we sleep together

Over German airspace flying
I remembered that September
When first we slept together
We camped at Lake Penobscot

  

Remember – a Duplex

Remembering September – we camp at Lake Penobscot
before I leave for Europe – the loons of Maine are calling

            in weeks I leave for Europe – my love of you is calling
            we pitch the tent that evening – we build a warming campfire

outside the tent at evening – bodies warming to the campfire
roasting smores and hot dogs – I have this dream of flying

            after smores and hot dogs – you and I go flying
            that night we sleep together for the first time of a lifetime

that night we sleep together – I have a fear of dying
this crazy fear of dying – it waits beyond the pale

            have this fear of dying – your body beautiful and pale
            realize my dream of flying – next week I leave for Europe

over German targets flying – and all my time in Europe
remembering that September – we camped at Lake Penobscot

 

Bob McAfee is a retired software consultant who lives with his wife near Boston. He has written nine books of poetry, mostly on Love, Aging, and the Natural World. For the last several years he has hosted a Wednesday night Zoom poetry workshop. Since 2019, he has had more than 90 poems selected by over thirty different publications. His website contains links to all his published poetry.

Kelly Sauvage Moyer is an award-winning poet, photographer and fiber artist, who pursues her muse through New Orleans’s French Quarter. She is the author of four books, including Hushpuppy and Mother Pomegranate and Other Fairytales for Grown-Ups, both released by Nun Prophet Press. She is the editor of Failed Haiku.