That time we moved

to California and I became that neighbor in my robe

turning the sprinkler on the dry grass

and I set up three blankets and two tea sets under the Magnolia tree

and when both kids were on Imogen’s phone I said

“you can’t set up a tea party and then lay around on your phone!”

even though that was exactly what I had done,

that time we moved to the Fairy Forest

I had first been led to when I was thirty-four

in the beginning stages of what would be my marriage

one deer was on the hill looking at us how they do

and I said it made me think of Grandpa Jim

and Ansel said I didn’t seem so sad

anymore because I didn’t cry every night,

that time we moved

none of the images of my dad did

and when Ansel held my finger

I thought of his nails with the blood under them

and everything people do with their hands

like yard work

that time we moved

to a beautiful place

it was July

and even though he was taken in September

July was when we lost him.