Book of Time XX: Twentieth Hour

Sage asked, "Sunflower?"
She caught a honeyed hint from
her jasmine refill.
Evelyn said, "My favorite,
also I married a klutz."

Sage began to see
as the fuzzy darkness cleared
from her retina.
Delaney made eye contact
when Sage said, "I can see you.

My eye sight is back!"
Walls of refined oak curved, and
candles of new scents
filled the curious nostrils
of three displaced time walkers.

William started,
"Delaney, I believed you
that day in the woods.
Your story didn't add up,
but I fought that hollow knight."

Delaney answered,
"You told the world my story.
I was last to know."
William said, "If I had
not kept the knight under wraps,

the Burgess would have
been implicated in that
forest fire case."
Sage said, "Mom, the world wasn't ready
to hear about time travel.

But when we get home,
I'll help tell your story right.
Let's not get stuck here."
She turned to their hosts,
"Not that you aren't lovely."

A young man walked in,
and Evelyn cheered, "Burlock!
You came home early!"
Adam said, "We have some guests."
Burlock stammered, "Delaney?"

Richard Auriga

Nassau County, NY