Victoria Melekian 

When I graduated, married,

bought a house, paid it off, kids

grew up, husband quit drinking,

divorce stopped aching. Always

waiting. For what I never knew.

Until now. Sitting in this blue chair

in the corner of a crooked rock garden,

impatiens and fuzzy weeds pushing up

between faded red brick, sun warm

on my head, I bend to tie

my grandson’s shoe, inhale the scent

of sticky sweat and peanut butter,

his hand a small weight on my shoulder

I want to keep forever.

Victoria Melekian lives in Carlsbad, California. Her stories and poems have been published in print and online anthologies. She’s twice been nominated for a Pushcart Prize.