Slap happy to see him she
threw her arms about his neck
reaching on tiptoe to do so
every wrinkle of the past smoothed
temporarily out with the sheer surprise
the childlike guileless smile spreading
without thought defense or hesitation
the happy upturned edges of her mouth
plumping up her cheeks like a baby’s
the eyes, their four eyes and likely
those of all who watched feasting on
the details each of the other and all of it
just all of it with the sensation of standing
beneath a cool waterfall tumbling over
washing away every speck of dust and grime
filling their very pores with a tender freshness
giving Hope to everyone looking on.
