excerpt from childhood revision

In winter we walked through Colonial Park
where dying roses pressed
their thorny fingers to the sky
And cross-country ski tracks made scars in the snow

In spring we played softball, flew kites in the park
and planted flowers in
the garden where my favorite trees
had just barely started to break out in green

In summer we spent our days by the canal
Or in the tennis courts
catching fish or playing games
While dreaming of sweet lemonade in the shade

In autumn we talked over bike rides and work,
about whatever came
to mind: unspoken apologies
To make up for missing my birthday each year.