So Bouyant Are the Joys

Renee beams loving appreciation for me,
All of me, as I lie singing quietly beside her.
My words and tone and song and face
Bring such obvious joy to her face,
I can’t help melting into the bubbling
Little joy boy who’s never been hurt or mad,
Who’s happy just playing with this sweet pretty
Other one, stroking, talking, smiling, laughing.
“Ahhh!” she breathes. “It’s your two year old
Markee face. It’s the little Markee face I love.
Ahhh! Hah!”

And I: “The way we’re smiling at each other now
Reminds me of the way the old folks
At the nursing home used to look at you
When you sang to them. The appreciation
Just poured out of their eyes and you fed on it,
Drank it in, grew with it, beamed it back.
You couldn’t hit a wrong note …
So buoyant are the joys of our souls!”