Times of Splendor (to Sherry)

I will give you a secret
a way to time-travel
through the haze of our histories
your heart will be dazzled!

it is a simple continuity
to our fractured memories
when we were both happy
carefree wood nymphs!

those innocent times of splendor
pure and open, always in wonder
wild and raw were the two of us
in those rebellious years of the sixties

when first you entered into my life
walking past me in the student cafeteria
tall and graceful ~ a splendid lovely flower
kissed by the sun, a scented fair being

attracting all of life surrounding you
like a fragrant, long-stemmed rose
and fluttering love-sick butterflies
how all of Nature did tally and sigh

remember our ice-cream diets
all the crazy food fasts and fads?
our long hair and colorful dresses
pierced ears and the endless fair lads

how we danced in the moonlight
and sang libations to the sun
skinny dipping in mountain springs
in endless days of child-like fun

we being two gypsies free
crosby, stills, nash and young
joni mitchell, santana, three dog
night, and the beatles on the run

one semester we lived together
in a special house on a hill
all of life for us was fresh and new
and everything stood magically still

we were the ladies of the canyon
you being the mother goddess
I was the free-spirited one
bosom pals the world did see

there was the rennaisance faire
the first year it was ever held
nothing that day forward compared
a trip back in time we did share

the two of us really did fit
with our long hair and flowing skirts
and our carefree ways so hip
those frivolous ways we did flirt

the music and the peace marches
night-time candle-light strolls
the time we blocked off the freeway
to end the vietnam war and save souls

no nukes, human rights, feminist movements
nothing could stop us, anything went
thank god we weren't going to kent
where students were killed, lives spent

allowed a certain freedom of expression
a god given right and a perfect lesson
that some in the world are not so blessed
like tibet, tennemen square, iran and the rest

we never forgot the country we lived in
all the priviledges and rights we are given
in other countries this is not easily shared
and people die for even trying, if they dare

many childhood friends are now so far
lived a life-time, survived with many scars
some have died premature deaths
or lost offspring, many to wars

both of us with grown-up kids
our husbands have been laid to rest
yet, the golden years ahead of us
those are going to be the best!

how astounding to have found you
an impossibility come to light and truth
this computer age makes the world small
I found the time portal and I scaled the wall!