The young bull dropped his head and stared.
Only a wispy wire — electrified — kept us
apart. That, and two long rows of asparagus.
An ancient apple tree
blossomed prodigally pink and white.
The muddy path sucked at my shoe,
but I reached the granite step, and knocked
at the rickety porch door.
Deep in the house a dog began to bark.
I had prepared my Heart Fund speech,
and the first word — When — was on my tongue.
I heard no steps — only the breeze
riffling the tender poplar leaves,
and a random, meditative moo
behind me.... Relieved, I turned back
to the car, passing once more
under the bull’ s judicial eye....
Everything was intact: the canister,
still far too light and mute,
and metal boutonnières where they began —
in a zip-lock plastic sandwich bag.