My Appian Way

all roads lead to rome they used to say i contemplate the roads I travel the milestones of oneness the monuments of memories i find they lead not to a city in italy but to our home walking past the red brick church where we exchanged vows joyful, joyful we adore thee polar opposites: you in white, I in black each proclaiming "till death do us part" and here we still are praise God from whom all blessings flow riding past the park where we strolled with the little people talking to chipmunks and waving at sparrows accompanied by the soundtrack of early parenthood the wheels on the bus the itsy bitsy spider pushing happy swings and riding giggling teeter-totters growing up together finger tapping on my steering wheel our song dances out of the stereo so happy together how is the weather? pulling into the driveway at the end of my appian way salty smiles coursing down my cheeks red bricks swingsets favorite songs all thoughts lead to you written 13 Feb 2023 [according to wikipedia: "Romans ... were masters of road construction. Their roads began at Rome, where the master itinerarium, or list of destinations along the roads, was located, and extended to the borders of their domain – hence the expression, "All roads lead to Rome".]