It walks a tightrope, with wistfulness

at one end and acute pain

at the other.

Nostalgia, the longing to return to the way 

we were, the smell of pie cooling on

the window sill, 

the sounds of Uncle Red’s hunting 

dog snoring in the carport, the sight

of Gram in her apron

baking biscuits and gathering

brown eggs for tomorrow's

breakfast.

Nostalgia clears the clutter of today, 

debrides the debris of yesterday

without obscuring 

the dreams of tomorrow.

We look homeward to the angels

in our lives, remembering 

them fondly,

then turn toward tomorrow,

pausing to take care of today,

for today

is where yesterday

and tomorrow meet,

to reconcile 

differences, to file memories 

and make plans for the

coming year.