Where I first put my arm around you.
Clad in red coats
and autumn hats,
we walked from the Farmers’ Market,
bags of basil in hand,
then arm in arm.
The dog waited.
Where so much music has been made.
Echoing through Lowertown
where the shade of the stage
and the wind and the leaves
made sense of that Saturday.
Where a fine cup of coffee
cut through foggy minds.
We spread our blankets on grass
and listened.
Later, on rocky terrain
near the river
we climbed and
laughed
as we carried the dog.
We’d left the basil behind
but I had a foreign feeling
that everything was all right.
Martin Devaney is a lifelong Saint Paul resident and writer of songs, stories, and poems. He has toured the country, releasing eight albums of original songs since 2002, and in recent years has returned to his roots in short fiction and poetry. He lives in the West Seventh neighborhood of Saint Paul with his wife and their dog. More info at www.martindevaney.com.
Art By:
Maya Rose is a painter and doll maker who lives in an artist cooperative in Lowertown. She has lived in Minnesota all her life, where, she admits, winters can be long, but you learn to treasure the warmth of the sun and the sweet personality of each changing season.
