As I sat down to breakfast just now at the kitchen counter

I caught sight of a weaved basket, and in it - a mountain

Of pine cones which you and I had picked up off ground

In order to add some seasonal beauty to the house around



Late November - I think it was, when we gathered them

For I remember - then you made plans with me to spend

Thanksgiving Dinner here so we could have turk together

And then plans changed and you disappeared in a tether  



For we fell apart after that, as you made plans to go west

Leaving me in the lurch without any company at all blessed

And now I gaze at the basket overfull with those lovely cones

Wondering what it is I did to make myself so completely alone



The beauty of those cones now remind me of hearts so full

When we two were of one mind & body and there was no pull

But then I remembered seeing other cones on drive recently

And realized the others now mashed to ground were more free



In a way - epitomizing what we two have been to each other

Before sadness took you away from me and quite under cover

And now I hold one pine cone and feel the sharp edges around

Knowing full well they also reflect you, as you are now bound ...



Christopher W. Thomas

9:40am Tuesday 12/30/97