Each Passing Clouds

The sailing ships above my head, unimageable shapes navigating through, as I walk the lonely stretch of the beach. Memories stir chapters of the past. I always wondered what my life would have been if I took a different course, then the one I took. That day the colors fanned out and whiffed of redolence unmistakable that Spring had arrived. The sound of the train had wakened me up that day from thought as I waited for him at the station. A considerable distance, listing to recurrent rumbling roar of the train's vibration snaking on the rail score, metal wheels rhythmic clatters over the rail ties the closer it neared. He stood still for a minute before he stepped off the train. He was tall, alluring sculpted body, in a dark brown suit and Stetson hat, short lace up Oxford shoes; a gentleman. He was a man I had met while in the service. We spent a couple of weeks enjoying each other’s company, but the joy of it wasn’t enough. He decided to reenlist again, applied for Officer Candidate School. I didn’t see him again. His image still imprinted in my mind. 3/8/2023