HAD THE CAR NOT BEEN IN THE GARAGE

Leaves, bigger than his hand, bigger than Gran’s hand, but not bigger than Papa’s hand

Leaves that were smooth and shiny, leaves that were rough

Seeds on the grass, seeds on the path

Two big shadows holding the hands of a little shadow.

The big kids flooding out of the school for lunch

Walking like a gymnast on a foot-high, foot-wide, wall

The man on the ride-on mower, giving the golf course a haircut

Stopping for the red man and shouting for the green man

Dancing branches and the wind in his hair

The excitement of watching the distant blue bus growing bigger

All in the space Papa would have driven through in a minute and a half

Had the car not been in the garage