Sterling silver starlight
dappled the limpid lake waters
as we sat on the sand
laughing about silly things.
When we were young.
Then you mentioned Janice West,
I'll never forget that moment.
You said she was so fine
and that you
wanted her in your family.
Something shattered inside me,
I bowed my head and hugged my knees.
You saw my sadness and chuckled,
I thought I'd die.
Then you put your arm around me,
pulled me close and simply said
you thought she'd wed your brother -
'cause they'd be a perfect match.
We were young.
Five years later, we sat with our baby
on the same stretch of sand,
the day after a storm with debris all 'round.
We sang folk songs and lullabies.
Ten years later,
there were five of us on the beach,
eroded from all the wild storms,
but we still had a fire and we sang.
We were not as young.
Another ten years passed
and we sat alone on our beach.
The children were older and out with friends.
We were glad to be alone,
like when we were young.
And then twenty years passed quickly.
The lake was stormy with strong waves,
We spoke of many things,
preparing ourselves,
should one leave before the other.
We were no longer young.
And then the day came that you were gone.
I sat alone on the beach
looking up at the sterling silver starlight,
knowing you were up there...
without me.
©Ellen Pepper 2026
https://youtu.be/4aZdJHHFkhY?si=O3ox9Ck-yVCltD9N
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