Coming of Age

 It will not be enough

 to recall stills from along the way

 to glimpse from its hill

 the long-gone night pasture

 the light on the river

 but not the river

 the sunbeam on the scuffed stairs

 in the soundless house

 but not where it was going

 the eyes of a dog 

watching from beside me

 a face in shadow

 silent as an old photograph

 our meeting our first night

 and waking at home together

 again

 I was there

 these same hands and these eyes as they were

 when they wondered where it was going

 where it had gone

 it will not be enough

 it will be enough 

 --W.S. Merwin

Photo: Flora Severini at the 1939 New York World's Fair.  Happy birthday.