Do you remember?

Do you remember the summer of the red kite?

I remember…..

I remember ripstop nylon in fire engine red,

cutting dowels with a steak knife,

swivel hooks attached to string.

Do you remember?

I remember a seven-foot wingspan,

300 feet of line that seemed like more

when we reeled it in,

and never needing a breeze

to make it lift towards the clouds.

Do you remember?

I remember the pair of Red Tail hawks

who caught the rising draft

just above

and chattered noisily over

the stranger in their airspace.

Do you remember?

I remember lazy Sunday afternoons

walking to the field

below the houses at the Ranch.

I remember Lapis blue skies,

dark green Pines

sandstone earth,

warm sun,

Colorado summers.

Do you remember?

I remember gathering up the kite

on days you weren’t there

and flying in solitude

wishing for your company

but happy in my dreams

of flying high.

I remember wanting miles of line.

I remember the summer of the red kite.

Do you remember?

I will always remember.

Today I hunger for a red kite summer…..

(For my children: Jeremy, Amy and Kelcey. May you remain forever young…..)