In the manner of Louis MacNeice

SANTA BARBARA JOURNAL

And I remember Santa Barbara

Edwardian house along Bath Street

out in the open among others slowly loving summer,

bbq grill, nicely cut grass, huge tree overseeing our yard

brown fence enclosing dreams of art and heartbreak.

Santa Inez mountains rising in the clear distance

meeting orange skies, sunlit clouds,

On quiet afternoons we grilled away

front porch bustling with laughter, guitars, beer,
whiskey, and endless poetry,

“say something provocative” echoing along later journal years

which photographs hint in our youthful smiles, the touch of ending

still down the street, unsure of our address

banter kept up in ping-pong battles, celebrate diversity

among off-colour winks and prods,

growing young each morning

steam of coffee, whirling cigarette smoke up to the light

cool June early hours leaving us in silence,

it is good to remember for an instant

to resurrect those smiles now scattered

now seen by countless others.