Book of Time XXI: Twenty-First Hour

Burlock stood amazed
at Delaney's demeanor.
He said, "William?
You two haven't aged a bit."
Delaney said, "Well, you have!"

Burlock said, "You’re here,
and on a day like today,
what a miracle.
Delaney Road is open!"
Delaney said, "What do you..."

He said, "Come and see."
Burlock's nine seater tour kart
fit their whole party.
The kart, spacious but not wide,
drove them to Delaney Road.

Beach Mountain meadows—
bustle of summer humming.
Over the brick road,
a town and country convoy
brings campers in through the gates.

Sage said to Burlock,
"What was my mom like back then?"
He answered, "Fearless.
She never hesitated
to save me and my classmates."

Adam looked around
at the buds Evelyn sowed,
now yellow tulips.
He said to her, "You were right."
Evelyn laughed in reply.

Delaney rolled down
her window as the kart toured
this camp with her name.
Burlock said, "Oz has the fall,
I thought you deserved the spring."

William opened 
the notepad in his pocket.
Sage gave him her pen,
saying what he was thinking,
"Who, what, when, where, why, and how."

Richard Auriga
Nassau County, NY