WHEN LOVE FLOURISHES a story-poem

When Love Flourishes

We stopped at this campground
where a small restaurant
stood against the pasture
of woods and a small pond.
People stopped at the side
of a yard and parked their cars.
Our little spot had a little
campfire and I saw his face
come near, inquisitive of his
new neighbour. He was just
at the next spot, this little
boy of eight years.
The group got together for a
game of soccer. And I raced
for the ball but the little
boy was faster. He was a
whirlwind and kept looking
at me. The afternoon lasted
too short and it was soon
time for everyone to go.
The little lad came near
and I told him he was
my son. “Your son?” the
restaurant proprietor said in
alarm. “Yes. And I haven’t
seen him for eight years.”
Now the boy and I are alone
and he comes to me as we
stand by the fence. “Okay
if I get a picture of us
before you go?” I ask. “Yes,”
he says and we do before
his car goes down the long road.

© Richard L. Provencher 2009
All rights reserved.