Irene's Painted Rocks

Irene's Painted Rocks

Irene's painted rocks
I still keep them
in my desk drawer
she gave me a few.

Some were seaweed green
some ferrous oxide red
others sky blue.

When fourteen years later
our code of silence
was broken down.

We were to meet
as she passed through town
before I learned
she'd gone underground.

This was to be
in early Springtime
so I collected several rocks for her.

We said goodbye forever
gave ourselves a pardon.
Like old Connery said
"Never say never again."

-Will Dockery (2020)