Short Summer Connection

7-Paddle Poem for 8/4/2023

Before 8 a.m.,

My five miles more

Than half accomplished,

I pause on 

A gently

High bench in

Good shade

And a good view

Of Oscar 

Rennebaum Park.

I arrived on the

North path passing

Twice an Asian

Woman clad in 

An orange shirt 

And black shorts—

Toned and very

Fit forty

Or fifty years

Younger than I.

I had nodded

And sensed a

Cordiality. 

Now on that 

South-facing

Bench, my back

To the north path,

She does a stationary

Routine of exercise 

Next to a tree

In my direct view.

I feel a part

Of her discipline

Because 

She glances

Periodically in

My direction.

Perhaps 

Positioning 

Herself in a display—

So I conjecture.

I see her

Impressive routine 

Of limb

Swings, stretches,

Movement repetitions—

Clearly her 

Daily practice. 

Since I feel

Sensitive to 

Stories, my mind

Wanders: am I 

Potential family

For one 

Far from home? 

Perhaps she displays

Herself as a potential

Mate, someone to

Care for—a white-

Haired, white-bearded 

Man who 

Will live less long 

Than she—

But with benefits

Nevertheless.

I leave, passing

Her next to 

Her tree, 

Torso muscles 

Put to till more 

Strenuous challenge. 

We look at 

Each other.

I gesture applause

And smile. Her

Face lights up

At 8:30 a.m.