SECOND CHANCE

Family members watched them,
these two, both married before,
both chasing each other,
like kids in a school yard,
like leaves caught in an autumn wind.

Family members talked about them
behind their backs, these two, both broken,
spinning in this new chance to dance,
hoping people learn from mistakes,
hoping people don’t hurt each other.

They talked about fear of Winter.
They talked about hope for Spring.
They talked about past and future.
They talked about thaw and resurrection.
Isn’t life filled with second chances?

Family members, like birds in trees,
sitting there watching
above the frozen fields of leaves,
some chirping songs of hope,
some chirping sour notes.

They got through the Winter to Spring.
Birds singing, building nests, starting again,
family members getting used to the two of them.
Then together they celebrated a new marriage
that April – a second chance.

© Andy Costello,
Reflections, 2009