seen in a day

I saw a gazillion things today
Words, dirty dishes, concrete steps,
the ladies room, my bare legs mid-March
reflected in the windows
Train tracks, baristas, bananas, text bubbles,
computer keys, 5:30 a.m. shampoo in my hand

A fleeting catalogue seen and released
Except
what I hold onto

A nuzzled head of wispy blond
Tattered blankie clasped by a sucking thumb
Two crew boats skimming down the Chicago River
paddles pulling in unison like the wings of geese
drawing the air south
Giggling boys hanging out the car window
waiting to take me home
A backlit cloud leaking the day's last sunlight
like it was holding back heaven

::

Spring break begins this weekend. Here's my TribLocal column on how we're spending it.