mushrooms

Wild mushrooms have sprouted 

on the curbside green

---‐-

If I stand here by the curbside 

all day long, in the rain

will I see mushroom sprout,

spread out and grow? 

I'm not sure. 

I've been watching my kids

near 10 years now.

I haven't been able to

catch them at it,

yet here they are

one, nearly at my height.

Maybe this magic

happens only at night.

Invisible threads tug

at fingers and toes

inch by inch 

until they tower over us

in height, love and beauty

Maybe we are not meant 

to see this change unfold

lest we grab hold,

unwilling to let the baby fat

disappear,

the cheeky grins, lilting words

knowing air 

shed like old skin. 

We just go about our days

reminding them to brush their teeth

pack their bags 

drink their milk

and suddenly they stand

extending their arms down

to comfort us

while we cant hold them

we can hold fast

each fleeting moment 

as it passes 

so we at least notice 

there are mushroom here where there were none before