And I Smiled Poem by Raymond J Wright

I walked late last night
Through this old neighborhood
The sounds of the world
Surrounding me:
Birds and frogs and bugs,
Wind chimes and voices; half conversations
Thought private and secret,
Music and televisions
Through open windows
Laughter of children and
And baby’s plaintiff wails

I could smell the gentle scent
Of moon flowers and cut grass
The smell of gasoline and engine oil
Lifted from the road in the heat of the day –
Sweet and reassuring

I could still hear your voice
Smell your skin,
Taste the wine on your lips

Our laughter mingled
With the music of life,
The music of our lives,
The past and the present combined

As I walked this dusty road
I still felt that tremor in my heart:
That long-forgotten thrill
And fear of something new