Tree rings

Maybe it's because that one time

I fell asleep in laundry,

baby rolls and wrinkled toes,

and you were there to see it and know

all I needed

was a beer

maybe it's because they say:

"the apple falls not far from the tree"

...but did they know?

listen:

remember that time

I first rode on two wheels?

you were there to take off the training ones,

kiss my shins,

and patch my soles

worn by pavement tread and childhood dreams

remember that time

I was Minnie Mouse,

and you, my bodyguard?

I laughed in rouge cheeks,

heavysweetcandybuttersmile;

you grinned and said,

"don't get yourself sick"

and held my hand when I did

remember those Sundays?

when we'd float into Monday,

lazy...

just like the charcoal-salmon-onion-smoke rising in our front yard

where you sat,

malt beer in hand, 

watching that rusty old grill

remember that time

I first switched gears?

in that little red car, we traveled neighborhood streets

(and I still thought 25 mph was fast)

you said:

"there will be stalls,

but there will always be a start"

remember all those apples you bought?

sweet braeburn,

those were our favorites;

I always liked the way they looked in their

orange, plastic

bowl:

fruit parade, kitchen glow

and do you remember that time

we first said goodbye?

I cried.

you stood there and said:

"you're beautiful..."

(I never knew it, but for you,

I believed it)

"...I'm so proud"

(and I hoped it was true)

they say

"the apple falls not far from the tree"

but what if apples turned into trees

and I grew beside you...

I'd say trees are the best observers

but trees grow older too, you know:

they have the rings to prove their years

and how wise they've become...

and I don't think I've ever seen as many rings

as I do on you

sometimes I wonder,

how many of my rings,

I'll get growing next to you.