When I was little
Two mountain ash trees grew
At the end of our driveway,
One on either side
Tall and welcoming
Clusters of orange berries
A cheery hello

How proud I was of those two trees
The only ones on our whole street
My street
My trees
Watching out, watching over
As we played circle hopscotch
Or spied on the boys

Today, I walked out of my office
Startled by a familiar clump of orange berries
Mountain-ash like
Here, a lifetime away
A continent away
I pulled out my phone to take a picture
To capture the past

This is for you, Dad
A reminder of all the days tied to memory
That come bubbling up
At the most unexpected times, in the most unexpected ways.

Today, I am a child again
Under the outstretched arms of a long-ago tree.