The Gathering

Returning
they revive the ancient
language of youth
though cadence falters
and inflections flatten.
Words slow
for edits
before they reach air.

Returning
they ring oblong linened tables
lean in to listen
to who’s doing what where
spark embered laughter
tell the untold
in glances latticed with
decades lived apart.

Returning
they lull to retelling
memories spare in detail
allow a sting of
sadness at parting
and relish mingling with interstate
strangers they don’t have to
pretend to know.

Barb Lundy is a hypnotherapist. She taught writing for many years at Denver area colleges. She's been widely published, including work in JAMA, the Potomac Review and the MacGuffin. Barb was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2005.