Once Long Ago Poem by Juan Olivarez

Once long ago
The sun never set
Well
That's the way it seemed
Anyway.

Running through the orchards
Of sweet smelling blossoms
Eating a big navel in the shade
Climbing the tree, finding
Whitewing squeakers
Begging for their meal.

Napping in the shade
Of the dense citrus trees
Private castles that spanned twenty feet
Watching through the leaves
As the cottontails came within touching distance
Only to have them bound away
At the first rustle
Of lemon scented leaves.

Once long ago
In those endless days
When the moon would spell the sun
And you finally would take to your own bed
The front door remaining open
To let in
The southern breeze, and the ghostly glow
Of the moon above
Until the sun returned to relieve the moon

Once long ago.

10/9/2014 Alton Texas