Children emerge from the library
paired with parents
and two steps out the door
they invariably
break into running or dancing or singing,
bouncing against their parent’s staider gait
like leaves caught by the autumn breeze,
pent up from stillness
now released —
as rich a gift to me
as the tall oak trees,
resplendent red above,
speaking of community,
a place that cares for them.

©Wendy Mulhern
November 13, 2019