Purple Heart

She

and Eugene

went walking through



woods

back of

the house with



limitless

ideas of

time and loving.



Backward

they bore

through tangles more



jungle-

like than

domestic, more weedy



than

true forest.

A spring day



picnic-

fresh, blue

and so yellow



were

their thoughts

upon the green



beneath,

bright blossoms

of contentedness. When



suddenly

she stood

stock still, hand



poised

to make

him stop short.



“What?”

“Shh. Shhh.”

“Oh! Bear! Gene!”